Rajasthan Voter List Controversy Erupts After BLO Video Goes Viral
A political storm has hit Rajasthan following a viral video featuring a distressed Booth Level Officer. The video shows Kirti Kumar, a government teacher serving as BLO in Jaipur's Hawa Mahal constituency, threatening self-harm after allegedly facing pressure to delete voter names improperly.
Congress Levels Serious Allegations
The Congress party has seized upon this incident to make broader claims. Party leaders allege systematic voter deletion targeting minority communities and Congress supporters across Rajasthan. They point to what they call pre-filled Form 7 applications submitted in bulk to remove thousands of legitimate voters.
Congress councillor Akbar Pathan from Jaipur's Ward 89 shared his personal experience. He claims someone submitted a Form 7 application in his name falsely stating he doesn't reside in Jaipur. Pathan identified the submitter as a local BJP worker who lives nearby and interacts with him regularly.
BJP Counters With Strong Denials
The ruling BJP has firmly rejected all allegations. Party leaders describe the Congress claims as completely baseless attempts to disrupt the electoral process. They maintain that only legitimate deletions are occurring, targeting duplicate registrations and deceased voters.
BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya from Hawa Mahal held a press conference dismissing the controversy. He questioned why Congress didn't raise objections earlier and suggested the opposition party should focus on real issues instead of creating unnecessary drama.
Specific Incidents Across Districts
The controversy has spread beyond Jaipur to other Rajasthan districts:
- In Adarsh Nagar, MLA Rafeek Khan accused his former BJP opponent of recommending 400-500 deletions using false information
- Alwar district saw Congress leaders claiming about 10,000 Form 7 applications targeting their supporters
- Barmer witnessed a police complaint about a forged Form 7 application
Official Data and Statements
According to Rajasthan's Chief Electoral Officer data, the BJP has submitted 18,896 Form 7 applications for voter deletions. The Congress has submitted only two such applications. This disparity has become a central point in the political debate.
Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa defended the process, stating that Special Intensive Revision follows established procedures. He emphasized that deletions only affect those with duplicate registrations or deceased voters, not legitimate electors.
Councillor Claims Fraud in His Area
Suresh Saini, councillor of Ward 13 in Jaipur Municipal Corporation, denied pressuring anyone. Instead, he claimed large-scale fraud exists in his constituency. Saini alleged fake addresses are being used to register bogus voters, which he reported with supporting evidence.
The BLO at the center of the controversy, Kirti Kumar, told media that senior officials intervened after his video went viral. They instructed him to strictly follow rulebook procedures, providing some relief from the alleged pressure he faced.
Congress Leadership Weighs In
State Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra and Opposition Leader Tikaram Jully held a joint press conference. They accused the BJP of submitting thousands of pre-printed applications overnight. The Congress leaders called this a direct attack on democracy and the fundamental right to vote.
As the controversy continues, district officials remain tight-lipped. Attempts to contact Alwar's district collector Artika Shukla for comments went unanswered, adding to the uncertainty surrounding these allegations.
