Belagavi Marathi Leaders Seek Bilingual Voter Forms During SIR Exercise; Memorandum Submitted to Deputy Commissioner
Belagavi, July 7: Seeking to make the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls more accessible for Marathi-speaking voters, Sakal Maratha Samaj leader Kiran Jadhav met Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan on Monday and urged the district administration to provide voter verification forms in Marathi alongside Kannada.
The request comes as the Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting the nationwide SIR exercise to update and verify electoral rolls.
Demand for Marathi Forms Alongside Kannada
In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Jadhav said Belagavi is a border district where Kannada and Marathi-speaking communities have lived together harmoniously for decades. A large number of residents have studied in Marathi-medium schools and may find it difficult to understand and fill forms available only in Kannada.
To address this issue, he requested that the administration print the Marathi version of the forms on the reverse side of the existing Kannada forms, enabling Marathi-speaking voters to complete the documentation without difficulty.
He also pointed out that bilingual forms would make it easier for Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to assist voters during the verification process.
Deputy Commissioner Assures Follow-Up
According to Jadhav, Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan assured him that the matter would be taken up with the Election Commission of India.
The Deputy Commissioner reportedly said the administration would examine the request and consider measures to facilitate Marathi-speaking voters during the SIR exercise.
Support for the SIR Exercise
While raising the language issue, Jadhav also expressed support for the Special Intensive Revision campaign being undertaken by the Election Commission.
He said the initiative is an important step towards preventing duplicate voting, ensuring cleaner electoral rolls and enhancing transparency in the election process.
Jadhav expressed confidence that the people of Belagavi would extend full cooperation to the administration in successfully implementing the exercise.
Appeal to the Administration
The Sakal Maratha Samaj leader urged the district administration to address the concerns of Marathi-speaking voters by making forms available in both Kannada and Marathi, ensuring that no eligible voter faces language-related difficulties while participating in the voter verification process.
The representation has been submitted to the district administration, and further action will depend on the Election Commission’s response to the request.
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