Samajwadi Party Levels Serious Allegations Against BJP Over Electoral Roll Manipulation
In a significant development concerning electoral integrity in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of orchestrating a widespread fraud to manipulate voter lists. The allegations center on the alleged misuse of Form-7 during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state.
Charges of Systematic Voter Deletion
Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav has charged the BJP with blatantly indulging in fraudulent activities to misuse Form-7, a document used for deletion of names from electoral rolls. According to Yadav, this systematic effort specifically targets minority voters, aiming to remove their names from voting lists despite repeated appeals and representations made to the Election Commission of India.
The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister expressed frustration that despite multiple interventions, what he describes as electoral fraud continues unabated. He emphasized that this is not merely an administrative oversight but a deliberate attempt to undermine democratic processes.
Specific Cases and Evidence Presented
The allegations gained concrete form when Akhilesh Yadav shared a video on Sunday featuring Raj Kumar, son of Parmanand from Gursanda. In this revealing footage, Kumar claims his local Booth Level Officer contacted him to confirm that he had filed an astonishing 63 Form-7 applications seeking deletion of voters from his booth.
"In the video, Raj Kumar categorically states that he never filed any such forms, suggesting there is a conspiracy behind this fraudulent activity," Yadav explained. He further asserted that this incident represents just one example of what he claims is a widespread pattern of misconduct.
Detailed Representation to Election Commission
On Monday, the Samajwadi Party escalated its complaints through a detailed representation submitted to the Election Commission of India. State president Shyam Lal Pal provided specific allegations regarding multiple assembly constituencies across Uttar Pradesh:
- In Lucknow's Sarojini Nagar constituency, the sitting BJP MLA allegedly had more than 20,000 pre-printed Form-7 documents containing names and EPIC numbers of local SP supporters and minority community members.
- These forms were reportedly distributed to Booth Level Officers with instructions to process them for name deletions.
- The memorandum includes specific booth numbers where these allegedly fraudulent forms have been submitted.
The representation details similar allegations for several other constituencies:
- Chanbe assembly seat in Mirzapur
- Maholi seat in Sitapur
- Dudhi in Sonebhadra
- Akabarpur in Kanpur Dehat
- Shikarpur seat in Bulandshahr
- Jakhaniya assembly seat in Ghazipur
- Amethi assembly seat in Amethi district
- Baldev Assembly seat in Mathura
SP's Strong Criticism of Election Commission
Akhilesh Yadav expressed deep disappointment with the Election Commission's response to these allegations. "These fraudsters are getting Form-7 printed in bulk to get the names of minorities struck off from the voter list," he stated in a Monday declaration. "Despite our repeated attempts to draw the attention of ECI towards this blatant exercise to contaminate the Special Intensive Revision, this has not stopped."
The SP chief revealed that party volunteers known as 'PDA Praharis,' along with functionaries and aware voters, are attempting to check what he calls the "free run of fraudsters." However, he stressed that the Election Commission must take proactive measures and initiate stringent action against those responsible.
Yadav criticized what he perceives as the Commission's passive stance: "Despite our repeated appeals and memorandums, the ECI watched everything as a mute spectator. It must take note of our memorandums and act decisively."
Legal Threats and Demands for Action
The Samajwadi Party has issued a stern warning regarding potential legal action. Akhilesh Yadav emphasized that illegal use of Form-7 constitutes a major crime, and he demanded that the Election Commission publicly advertise the penalties for such offenses to serve as a clear warning to potential offenders.
"If the Election Commission fails to act appropriately, Samajwadi Party functionaries will lodge FIRs against individuals involved in these alleged fraudulent activities," Yadav declared. He added that if police authorities refuse to entertain their complaints, the party is prepared to pursue legal recourse through the courts.
This escalating confrontation highlights growing tensions around electoral processes in Uttar Pradesh as political parties prepare for future elections. The allegations raise serious questions about voter list integrity and the mechanisms designed to protect democratic participation in India's most populous state.
