Assam's Special Voter List Revision Sparks Debate with Over 10 Lakh Deletions
The final voter list published in Assam on Tuesday has ignited significant political and public discourse, revealing a net decrease of 2.43 lakh voters from the draft list released in December. This outcome stems from a contentious Special Revision process, which has seen over 10 lakh names deleted from the electoral rolls, according to data from the Chief Electoral Officer's office.
CEO Anurag Goel Defends Process Alignment with Surveys
Assam Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel emphasized on Wednesday that the final voter numbers closely match the findings from Booth Level Officers during extensive house-to-house visits conducted prior to the claims and objections period. "The final additions and deletions are not too different from the findings by BLOs during the house-to-house survey," Goel stated, highlighting the rigorous verification efforts undertaken.
During these surveys, BLOs identified over 4.78 lakh names for deletion due to deaths, 5.23 lakh voters who had shifted locations, and 53,619 duplicate entries requiring corrections. Additionally, they noted 6.27 lakh individuals over 18 not included in the voter list and 1.46 lakh potential voters aged 17 and above.
Claims and Objections Process: High Volume and Controversy
The claims and objections phase proved particularly contentious, with a flood of applications:
- Form 6 Applications: Out of 7.6 lakh received for new voter inclusions, 5.86 lakh were accepted.
- Form 7 Applications: These applications, for removals based on death, absence, or permanent relocation, totaled 12.97 lakh. Of these, 10.63 lakh were accepted, 1.9 lakh rejected, and 43,536 remain pending.
- Form 8 Applications: For corrections in electoral details, 15.36 lakh were received, with 13.46 lakh accepted.
Goel addressed concerns over bulk and false objections by third parties, noting that many applicants were unaware complaints had been filed against their EPIC numbers. "In many cases, applicants were not even aware that complaints had been registered... The applications found invalid were summarily dismissed," he explained, though the exact number of dismissed applications was not enumerated.
Political Rhetoric and Special Revision Context
The Special Revision, described by officials as a "modified version" of the annual summary revision, was implemented in Assam due to the unresolved National Register of Citizens exercise. It became highly controversial during the house-to-house survey, as voters received notices for hearings based on objections to their inclusion.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma added fuel to the fire by claiming that BJP workers filed objections on his directions to "trouble Miyas," a derogatory term for Bengali-origin Muslims in the state. He asserted that these actions led to "lakhs" of names being removed, further polarizing the issue.
Despite the uproar, Goel maintained that the process aimed to ensure accuracy and integrity in the electoral rolls, with final figures reflecting diligent ground-level verification rather than partisan influence.
