Invisible actors: On bulk applications, voter name deletion
Allegations of bulk fraudulent Form 7 filings to delete voters’ names from electoral rolls have emerged across multiple Indian states, including Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand. These forms were often submitted without the voters' knowledge, sometimes hundreds under a single person’s name. Opposition parties accuse "systemic and coordinated efforts" to unfairly benefit the BJP. Despite ECI’s rule for mandatory review for over five objections, concerns persist. The author criticizes the current process, asserting the ECI must proactively protect voting rights. It calls for immediate investigation of abnormal patterns, process monitoring, and a uniform Standard Operating Procedure for voter deletion.
The Hindu · The Hindu · Yesterday at 7:56 PM