The publication of Madhya Pradesh's draft electoral rolls, following a major revision drive, has sparked a political debate over voter list integrity. However, early data from the ongoing correction process reveals a surprising lack of formal challenges from major political parties, even as individual citizens actively seek amendments.
Mass Deletions and Muted Political Response
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, conducted from November 4 to December 18, led to the removal of a staggering 42.74 lakh names from the state's draft voter list published on December 23. This large-scale deletion immediately fueled opposition allegations of voter list manipulation. Yet, the official claims and objections data tells a different story for now.
Between December 23 and January 1, recognized political parties submitted a total of only 1,305 claims and objections. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) filed 920 claims for inclusion and 27 objections for deletion. The principal opposition, the Indian National Congress, filed 279 inclusion claims and 43 objections.
Citizen Activity Contrasts Party Apathy
In stark contrast to the political parties' limited participation, individual voters have been far more proactive in engaging with the electoral correction process. During the same period, election authorities received a significant 85,889 Form 6 applications for inclusion and 5,894 Form 7 objections for exclusion directly from electors.
This indicates a net request for the addition of nearly 80,000 names by the electorate itself. Election officials have stated that all applications will undergo thorough verification before any final decision is made.
Behind the Revision and the Political Rhetoric
The SIR drive involved over 65,000 booth-level officers conducting door-to-door verification across Madhya Pradesh. The deletions primarily targeted voters found to be deceased, duplicated, or having relocated. The exercise also identified approximately 8.40 lakh "unmapped" voters, whose status is still under examination.
Reacting to the low number of formal objections from his party, state Congress election affairs in-charge JP Dhanopia alleged that the BJP attempted to add ineligible voters with the help of booth-level officers—a claim the Congress says it will challenge. This explanation seeks to bridge the gap between the party's sharp public criticism and its limited official action.
The Road to Final Electoral Rolls
Election authorities have emphasized that no addition or deletion is final at this draft stage. The window for filing claims and objections remains open until January 22. Following this deadline, electoral registration officers will adjudicate all cases through hearings and issue reasoned orders.
The final electoral rolls will be published only after this comprehensive process is complete. Officials maintain that the overarching goal of the Special Intensive Revision is to ensure a clean, accurate, and legally sound voter list in preparation for future elections in Madhya Pradesh.
