Congress Levels Serious Allegations Against BJP Over Voter List Revisions in Rajasthan
In a significant political development, the Congress party on Thursday made strong accusations against the Bharatiya Janata Party. The opposition party claimed the BJP misused the Special Intensive Revision process to remove thousands of voters from electoral rolls across Rajasthan. Congress leaders presented detailed allegations during a press conference at their state headquarters in Jaipur.
Formal Complaint Lodged with Election Authorities
Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra, along with other senior party functionaries, met State Election Commissioner Navin Mahajan. They submitted a formal memorandum outlining their concerns about potential voter list manipulation. The delegation demanded immediate action to address what they described as systematic attempts to disenfranchise voters.
Dotasra explained that Congress booth level agents actively participated throughout the SIR process. They cooperated fully with election commission officials at every stage. However, he claimed the situation changed dramatically on the final day for filing objections.
Allegations of Organized Manipulation
"BJP's Rajasthan incharge B L Santhosh held secret organizational meetings," Dotasra stated during the press conference. "He issued specific directions to BJP leaders about how to manipulate the Special Intensive Revision process."
The Congress leader further alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah later conducted a four-hour meeting with BJP leaders. According to Dotasra, this meeting resulted in additional instructions for manipulating voter lists. Following these developments, the Chief Minister's office reportedly provided BJP leaders with pen drives containing detailed constituency data.
Bulk Submissions with Forged Documents
"Based on this data, pre-printed forms with forged signatures were prepared," Dotasra claimed. "These forms lacked proper BLA signatures and were created by a centralized agency. They were submitted in bulk just one day before the SIR draft publication, specifically targeting names of Congress-supporting voters."
The Congress leader presented comparative data released by the state's chief electoral officer on January 14. According to these figures, 973 BJP BLAs submitted 211 applications for adding names and 5,694 applications for deletions. In contrast, 110 Congress BLAs submitted objections seeking addition of 185 names and deletion of only 2 voters.
Targeted Approach Against Congress Strongholds
Dotasra provided additional details about the alleged operation. "On January 13, BJP leaders distributed constituency-wise pen drives to MLAs and ministers," he said. "They specifically targeted Assembly segments where Congress won by narrow margins, where our vote bank remains strong, or where Dalit, tribal and minority voters are concentrated in large numbers."
The Congress leader accused BJP leaders of submitting bulk applications in clear violation of established rules. He claimed their sole purpose was deleting legitimate voters from electoral lists.
Corporate Involvement Alleged
Dotasra made another serious allegation during his presentation. He stated that BJP's central leadership hired companies to identify specific voter categories. These included voters who support Congress, those who oppose BJP policies, and individuals associated with various social movements.
"They targeted people connected with Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitra, campaigns to save the Aravalli range, and employee agitations," Dotasra explained. "This shows a systematic approach to removing potential opposition voters."
Additional Testimonies from Congress Leaders
Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully shared concerning details from his constituency. "Initially, 4,000 forms were submitted for deletions," he revealed. "This number mysteriously rose to 12,000 forms. Most forms lack proper voter details and signatures."
Jully demanded immediate release of CCTV footage from election commission offices. He believes this footage would help identify individuals who submitted such large volumes of forms in violation of procedures.
Congress chief whip Rafeek Khan presented another specific example. He claimed that in Adarsh Nagar constituency, applications with forged signatures were filed. These applications sought to delete names of a Congress councillor and his family members from voter lists.
Broader Implications for Democratic Process
The allegations raise serious questions about electoral integrity in Rajasthan. Congress leaders emphasized that manipulating voter lists undermines democratic foundations. They called for thorough investigation and corrective measures before upcoming elections.
The party demanded transparency in the revision process and proper verification of all deletion applications. They stressed the need to protect every citizen's fundamental right to vote without political interference.
