Politicians from various parties in Navi Mumbai have raised urgent demands for corrections in the electoral roll, citing a significant number of duplicate entries. This push comes well in advance of the crucial civic elections, aiming to ensure a fair and accurate voting process.
Massive Verification Drive Uncovers Duplicates
The State Election Commission (SEC) has officially accepted the voter list dated July 1, 2025, for the upcoming Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) elections. As part of meticulous preparations, the commission had initially flagged 45,588 potential repeat voters for scrutiny.
In a recent, extensive verification exercise conducted by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across all municipal wards, a substantial number of these suspicions were confirmed. The BLOs successfully identified and validated 13,336 duplicate entries in the electoral roll. This verification was a planned activity under the supervision of Municipal Commissioner and Election Officer, Kailas Shinde.
How the BLO Teams Conducted the Scrutiny
To tackle this issue, ward-wise BLO teams were specially formed. The process was systematic and technology-aided. First, the list of potential repeat voters provided by the SEC was classified using a computer system, sorting names and assembly sections. BLOs were then provided with photographs of the suspected duplicate entries to aid their physical verification.
The officers on the ground checked multiple parameters to confirm duplication:
- Whether the same name appeared in the same ward.
- If the photographs in different entries matched.
- Similarities in parental names.
- Correspondence of addresses provided.
In cases where the same individual was found registered at two different addresses, they were mandated to submit a formal undertaking or guarantee letter. This document had to specify the single address and name under which they would exercise their franchise in the forthcoming elections.
Political Reaction and Remaining Concerns
This drive for a clean electoral roll has been welcomed by local political activists, particularly those who have long campaigned on this issue. Gajanan Kale, head of the Navi Mumbai unit of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), acknowledged the move. He has been a persistent voice against the presence of duplicate voters in the list.
However, Kale and others express dissatisfaction, stating that a large number of duplicate voters still remain in the revised electoral roll. They insist that more rigorous efforts are needed to purify the list entirely before the city goes to the polls. The NMMC carried out this verification as a key step in its preparations for the municipal elections scheduled for January 15, 2026.
The discovery of thousands of duplicate entries underscores the challenges in maintaining accurate voter databases in rapidly growing urban areas. It also highlights the critical role of Booth Level Officers in grassroots democratic administration. With the election date set, all eyes will be on the State Election Commission to see if further rectifications are made to address the concerns raised by political representatives across the spectrum.
