"Good Joke, Game On": Actor Prakash Raj Claims Name Deleted from Bengaluru Voter List
Prominent actor and vocal critic of the ruling establishment, Prakash Raj, has stirred a fresh political debate by claiming that his name is among the 65 million voters allegedly removed during the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bengaluru. The 61-year-old actor took to social media to criticize the massive voter list cleanup, which has revealed that nearly half of Bengaluru's registered electorate falls under categories such as absent, shifted, duplicate, or deceased, making the capital city the most scrutinized zone in Karnataka's electoral revision drive.
Prakash Raj Slams Voter Deletion in Viral Video
In a sarcastic video shared on Instagram, Prakash Raj addressed his followers, remarking that he wanted to share a "good joke" about how his democratic right to vote had allegedly been stripped away in his home constituency following sweeping administrative amendments. Highlighting his deep roots in the city, the actor noted that he was born, raised, educated, and built his entire theatrical career in Bengaluru, even contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from the Bangalore Central constituency. Mocking the bureaucratic process, he sarcastically questioned what documents he would now be forced to produce to restore his voting rights, drawing indirect parallels to the nationwide debates surrounding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Background on Multiple Voter ID Allegations
The actor's claims come against the backdrop of recent legal troubles. Last month, Prakash Raj was granted conditional bail by a Bengaluru court after a non-bailable warrant had been issued against him over allegations of holding multiple voter ID cards. Complainants previously alleged that the actor possessed up to four active voter identity cards across Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, which directly violates Election Commission regulations permitting a citizen to hold only a single, active voter registration. Accusing the authorities of using administrative mechanisms to suppress critical voices, Raj warned that while powers can target citizens' voting rights, the public ultimately holds the power to overthrow governments.
Election Commission Extends Voter List Revision Deadlines in Karnataka
Amid mounting political friction, the Election Commission of India has extended the timeline for the special intensive revision of electoral rolls across Karnataka. According to the revised schedule, the door-to-door verification phase will now conclude on August 17, with the draft voter list scheduled for publication on August 24. Citizens will have the window between August 24 and September 23 to file claims and objections, while the final, updated voter list is slated for official release on October 27.
Alarming Statistics: Half of Bengaluru Urban Voters Flagged
Data released by the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka highlights the massive scale of discrepancies across the state. Out of the 5,54,32,314 registered voters in Karnataka, nearly 19.81 percent—amounting to 1,09,83,901 individuals—have been categorized under Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate (ASDDO) entries. Bengaluru Urban district remains the worst affected, with 44.13 percent (1,774,626 out of 4,021,039) flagged. Most notably, within the Greater Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike South zone, over 50.72 percent of voters (1,087,829 out of 2,144,784) fell into this questionable category, prompting intensive scrutiny from electoral authorities.
