The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress have engaged in a heated confrontation over allegations of unauthorised voters being included in the electoral roll for the upcoming Municipal Corporation election in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.
BJP Alleges Political Manipulation
Opposition BJP has accused the state government and local administration of registering outsiders in the voter list under political pressure to favour the sitting Congress MLA Ramkumar. Former BJP MLA Paramjeet Singh Pammi demanded the immediate cancellation of these alleged unauthorised votes. He claimed that the Congress party, after facing a clear drubbing in the Panchayati Raj elections—including losing two of three Zila Parishad seats in Doon and Block Development Committee polls—is now attempting to add unauthorised migrant voters in every ward to gain an unfair advantage in the upcoming civic body polls.
Pammi further alleged that voters from other states, who are already registered in their parent states, are being added to the Baddi electoral rolls. He claimed that the administration and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are preparing the voter list under pressure from the sitting MLA. He warned that if swift action is not taken, BJP workers will take to the streets, go on a hunger strike, and even approach the High Court seeking justice. He demanded a fair investigation and immediate cancellation of the alleged fake votes.
Congress Dismisses Charges as Baseless
Countering the allegations, Congress leader and former Municipal Council president Madan Lal Choudhary expressed faith in the administration’s functioning and dismissed the BJP’s charges as baseless. He stated that the electoral roll revision is being conducted transparently and that there is no question of adding unauthorised voters.
Administration Clarifies Process
Baddi Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sanjeev Kumar clarified that during the special revision of the voter list, all claims and objections received until June 27 had already been disposed of by the Revising Authority. He noted that there is now only a provision for appeals until July 2. Anyone with an objection or complaint regarding any name can file an appeal under the prescribed procedure, and the final decision rests with the State Election Commission. The administration urged all parties to follow the legal process rather than resorting to street protests.
