Actor Prakash Raj has alleged that his name has been removed from Bengaluru's electoral rolls, saying that he discovered the issue during Karnataka's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. In a video shared on Instagram, the actor questioned how his name could disappear from the electoral rolls, despite him having lived in the same constituency for years and even contesting in the Lok Sabha election from it.
"I want to share a joke with you," Prakash Raj said in the video. "My vote has been removed from the constituency where I was born and raised. I even contested the Lok Sabha election from the same constituency. Yet, my name is no longer on the voters' list. If this isn't a joke, what is?"
The actor also referred to reports and public concerns over voter names allegedly being removed during the ongoing revision exercise, saying he was among those affected. The Election Commission has not publicly responded to his specific claim.
Calling the issue a serious concern, Prakash Raj said genuine voters should not lose their right to vote because of errors in the verification process.
"Voting is every citizen's democratic right. If genuine voters are finding their names missing, it is a serious concern. How can such mistakes happen?" he said.
Prakash Raj added that he would complete the required formalities to have his name restored to the electoral rolls.
"My vote has been deleted. I will do whatever is necessary to get it back. Let's see how many documents I have to submit," he said.
His remarks come as the Election Commission continues the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a door-to-door exercise aimed at updating electoral rolls by identifying duplicate, shifted, deceased and otherwise ineligible voters. As part of the process, voters have been advised to verify their details and complete any required documentation to ensure their names remain on the electoral rolls.
The issue has sparked debate in Karnataka, with political parties and citizens raising concerns over the ongoing revision of voter lists. The Election Commission has maintained that the exercise is intended to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls and has urged eligible voters to verify their details within the prescribed timeline.
