Congress Delegation Alleges BJP's Systematic Misuse of Form 7 to Manipulate Electoral Rolls in Madhya Pradesh
A high-level delegation of Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders, under the leadership of state Pradesh Congress Committee chief Jitu Patwari, visited the Election Commission office in Bhopal on Thursday. The delegation engaged in detailed discussions with election officials and formally submitted a comprehensive memorandum raising serious concerns about alleged electoral malpractices by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Allegations of Massive Voter List Manipulation Through Form 7
Following the meeting with Election Commission representatives, Patwari addressed media personnel and revealed startling statistics. He claimed that 11 lakh names were added to the electoral rolls within an astonishingly brief period of just three days. Patwari characterized this sudden surge as a "clear message of conspiracy" orchestrated by the BJP to manipulate voter lists ahead of crucial elections.
"I wish to inform all voters and citizens of Madhya Pradesh, along with district election officers and Booth Level Officers, that we have witnessed an unprecedented increase of 11 lakh names in merely 3 days," Patwari stated emphatically. "This escalation from 4 lakh to 11 lakh names through Form 7 submissions represents a deliberate attempt to undermine electoral integrity."
Systematic Pattern of Electoral Irregularities Alleged
The Congress memorandum outlines what it describes as a coordinated strategy by BJP ministers across Madhya Pradesh. According to the allegations, BJP ministers received specific instructions to "protect 50 votes in every booth" through the systematic use of Form 7, which is officially designated for raising objections to names included in electoral rolls.
Patwari raised fundamental questions about the impartiality of the electoral revision process, asking why BJP governments would deploy ministers for what should be a neutral Summary Revision and purification of voter lists if the process was truly objective and non-partisan.
Broader Pattern of Voter Exclusion in Other States
The Congress leader drew attention to what he described as a disturbing pattern emerging in other BJP-ruled states. He alleged that in Rajasthan and elsewhere, the BJP has been systematically removing names of voters belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and minority communities from electoral rolls.
Furthermore, Patwari claimed that names of voters from families of Congress workers are being specifically targeted for removal, creating what he termed an uneven electoral playing field that disadvantages opposition parties.
Violations of Election Commission Guidelines
The memorandum highlights specific violations of Election Commission regulations regarding Form 7 submissions. While EC rules explicitly limit the number of objections an individual can file through Form 7, evidence collected from several districts reportedly shows instances where a single person filed as many as 200 objections.
Patwari alleged that this represents a clear breach of established protocols that threatens to compromise the entire electoral revision process. He further claimed that BJP booth-level agents and some complicit Booth Level Officers are collaborating to pressure voters into completing Form 7 documents, thereby creating what he described as a "threat to the democratic system itself."
Congress Demands Immediate Action and Investigation
The delegation submitted a formal memorandum containing specific demands for immediate corrective action:
- Immediate disciplinary action against Booth Level Officers found involved in electoral irregularities
- An impartial, high-level investigation into the alleged misuse of Form 7 across Madhya Pradesh
- Strict enforcement of Election Commission rules governing objections and electoral roll revisions
- Transparent monitoring mechanisms to ensure future electoral processes remain free from partisan interference
Prominent Congress Leaders Participate in Delegation
The delegation included several prominent Congress figures who lent their weight to the serious allegations:
- Congress MLAs Arif Masood and Atif Aqeel
- Former minister P C Sharma
- State party media chief Mukesh Nayak
- Seva Dal president Avneesh Bhargava
- The legal cell chief and other senior party leaders
The collective presence of these senior leaders underscored the seriousness with which the Congress party views these allegations of electoral manipulation. The delegation emphasized that these concerns extend beyond partisan politics to touch upon fundamental democratic principles that require urgent safeguarding.
