DK Suresh urges CM to exercise caution regarding caste census
Bengaluru: Former MP DK Suresh has urged the Chief Minister to tread carefully on the issue of the caste census. Addressing the media at his residence in Sadashivanagar on Friday, he stated that the Union government has already announced a census, and conducting the caste survey using the necessary criteria during this time would not lead to confusion. “It is better to wait until the census is conducted,” he suggested.
He further added that Siddaramaiah is their leader and expressed his desire to see him remain the Chief Minister for the full five-year term. "With the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari, Siddaramaiah will overcome all allegations, and no one can destabilise him," he said.
Expressing concern over recent developments, Suresh noted that they are not in the state’s interest. He urged all political leaders to be cautious before people take to the streets. “People voted for Congress in Karnataka and for the NDA coalition at the Centre with the hope for development. But, the elected leaders are engaging in accusations and counter-accusations, disrespecting the people of Karnataka," he lamented.
He emphasised that addressing the pressing issues is the responsibility of both the state and central governments. "Instead of indulging in such infighting, the governments should focus on solving problems faced by farmers and the youth," he stated, warning that if this continues, people might be compelled to resort to protests.
Commenting on statements made by MLAs ST Somashekar and GT Devegowda in support of Siddaramaiah, Suresh said that those who filed complaints did their job, and the court has taken cognizance by ordering an investigation. “Everyone should remain patient until the investigation is completed, and it is up to the investigating officers to determine what is right and what is wrong,” he remarked.
Responding to a question about BJP MLA Muniratna's case, Suresh noted that he was unaware of the details but termed the situation unpleasant. “Recent developments are embarrassing and not conducive to Karnataka’s progress. The state was once recognized for its good governance and development, but the current situation is distressing,” he commented.
On the statement made by Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan that Suresh should contest the Channapatna by-election, Suresh expressed gratitude for Zameer's faith and affection. He said that the party will decide on the appropriate candidate once the election is announced.
When asked about separate meetings being held by Dalit leaders, Suresh responded that leaders of their community often come together to discuss various issues. “There is nothing wrong with it. We need to discuss how to handle the state's developments. Dr. G Parameshwara served as KPCC president for eight years, and Satish Jarkiholi was the working president. It’s natural to deliberate on matters concerning our society,” he concluded.
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UP SIR: Over 84 lakh voters added in final list, total electorate rises to 13.39 crore
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh's electorate grew by over 84 lakh to 13.39 crore after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), according to the final voter list published on Friday.
Addressing a press conference at the Lok Bhawan Media Centre here, Uttar Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said the SIR exercise was conducted from October 27, 2025, to April 10, 2026, covering all 75 districts, 403 assembly constituencies and polling stations across the state.
He said the 166-day exercise was carried out with the contribution of 75 District Election Officers (DEOs), 403 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 12,758 Assistant EROs, 18,026 BLO supervisors and 1,77,516 Booth Level Officers (BLOs). In addition, 5,82,877 booth-level agents of recognised political parties and crores of voters extended cooperation.
Print, electronic and digital media also played a key role in awareness efforts, he added.
Rinwa said the draft electoral roll published on January 6, 2026, had a total of 12,55,56,025 voters, including 6.88 crore male voters, 5.67 crore female voters and 4,119 third gender voters.
The number of voters in the 18-19 age group stood at 3,33,981, while the gender ratio was 824 female voters per 1,000 male voters.
The final electoral roll published on April 10 shows the total number of voters at 13,39,84,792, he said.
Of these, male voters number 7,30,71,071 (around 54 per cent), female voters 6,09,09,525 (45.46 per cent) and third gender voters 4,206 (less than 0.01 per cent).
The number of voters in the 18-19 age group has risen to 17,63,360, accounting for 1.32 per cent of the total electorate. The gender ratio has also improved to 834 female voters per 1,000 male voters.
Comparing the draft and final rolls, Rinwa said the total increase in the number of voters is 84,28,767. This includes an increase of 42,27,902 male voters, 42,00,778 female voters and 87 third gender voters.
The 18-19 age group registered a rise of 14,29,379 voters, while the gender ratio improved by 10 points from 824 to 834, he said.
Among districts, Prayagraj recorded the highest increase in voters at 3,29,421, followed by Lucknow at 2,85,961, Bareilly at over 2,57,000, Ghaziabad at 2,43,666 and Jaunpur at 2,37,590.
The CEO said the successful completion of the revision exercise reflects coordinated efforts by election officials, political parties and voters across the state.
