In a revealing development during Madhya Pradesh's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the active participation of common citizens has dramatically overshadowed the engagement of major political parties. While individual voters have submitted a staggering volume of applications, the state's recognized political entities have shown surprisingly limited formal involvement in the process.
A Stark Contrast in Public and Political Engagement
Official data released by the Chief Electoral Officer's office paints a clear picture. On one side, individual electors have proactively filed over 3.02 lakh Form 6 applications seeking the inclusion of eligible voters. They have also submitted 30,260 Form 7 objections for the deletion of names directly with election authorities.
This massive public response has resulted in a net request for the inclusion of approximately 2.72 lakh names so far. The figures highlight a significant citizen-led initiative to shape the voter list.
Political Parties Lag Far Behind
In sharp contrast, the response from recognized political parties has been remarkably muted. Despite intense political debate and allegations surrounding the deletion of 42.74 lakh names from the draft electoral rolls, parties have collectively filed only 1,317 claims for inclusion and 89 objections for exclusion.
This minimal formal action underscores a significant gap between the heated political rhetoric heard in public and the concrete steps taken through official channels.
A breakdown of party-wise applications shows:
- The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) filed the most, with 951 inclusion claims and 27 objections.
- The Indian National Congress followed with 347 claims for inclusion and 45 objections.
- The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) submitted 19 claims and 17 objections.
- Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) did not file any applications during this period.
Process and Verification Remain Key
Election officials have reiterated that the window for filing claims and objections remains open until January 22. They have emphasized a critical point: no inclusion or deletion will be finalized until every single application undergoes careful scrutiny and verification through proper procedures.
This step-by-step verification process is designed to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the final electoral roll. Officials stress that all applications from citizens and parties alike will be processed according to the established rules before any changes are reflected.
The current scenario in Madhya Pradesh presents a fascinating dynamic where the electorate's direct participation in democratic housekeeping is far more vigorous than that of the political class tasked with representing them. The final rolls, to be published after due process, will reveal the ultimate impact of this citizen-led surge.
