Congress Files Urgent Complaint Against BJP Over Alleged Voter Deletion Scheme
In a significant development, the Congress party has lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of systematically misusing electoral procedures to target genuine voters for wrongful deletion. The allegations specifically concern the ongoing Summary Revision of electoral rolls in eight key states across India.
Widespread Allegations Across Multiple States
The complaint, filed by All India Congress Committee general secretary and Member of Parliament KC Venugopal, identifies Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, and Kerala as states where the alleged misuse of Form 7 is occurring. According to the Congress, this coordinated effort represents a deliberate attempt to manipulate electoral rolls ahead of crucial elections.
Venugopal expressed deep concern about what he termed the Election Commission's "inaction in addressing systematic subversion" of the electoral roll revision process. He emphasized the urgent need for immediate intervention to prevent what Congress claims is an unfair electoral advantage being sought by the BJP through these methods.
Specific Concerns About Form 7 Misuse
The complaint details how Form 7, which is designed for raising specific objections to voter names based on factual grounds such as death or duplication, is allegedly being misused. Venugopal stressed that the form "is not meant for generalised or speculative objections" and that the burden of proof legally rests with the person filing the objection, with penalties prescribed for false submissions.
According to the Congress allegations, Form 7 objections are being generated in bulk through a centralized system and then used to target specific categories of electors. The complaint identifies Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minority communities, and senior citizens as particularly vulnerable groups in this alleged scheme.
Organized Mechanism and Identity Concerns
The Congress complaint outlines what it describes as a well-organized mechanism for distributing these bulk objections. The forms are allegedly being handed over to Booth Level Officers across multiple constituencies in a coordinated manner.
A particularly concerning aspect highlighted in the complaint is the alleged absence of clear and verifiable particulars of the individuals submitting Form 7 objections. This contradicts Election Commission mandates requiring objectors to disclose their identity along with documentary evidence supporting their objections. The complaint notes that in many instances, the alleged objectors have denied filing the objections altogether.
Potential Consequences and Demands
Venugopal warned that if the Election Commission fails to address these concerns, it could lead to "the disenfranchisement of lakhs of voters, especially those belonging to backward, marginalised communities." He emphasized that backward communities are being specifically targeted in this alleged scheme.
The Congress party has made several specific demands to the Election Commission:
- Institution of real-time supervision over the voter deletion process
- Enhanced monitoring of Form 7 applications, including their issuance and submission
- Investigation under Article 324 of the Constitution into alleged misuse of Form 7
- Release of disaggregated data relating to Form 7 applications for all twelve states undergoing Summary Revision of electoral rolls
The complaint concludes by stating that these alleged practices "cast serious doubts over the sanctity of the entire Summary Revision process" currently underway. The development represents a significant escalation in political tensions surrounding electoral preparations in multiple states, with potential implications for upcoming elections.
