Samajwadi Party to Challenge Electoral Roll Anomalies in Parliament

The Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced plans to raise concerns regarding significant irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls during the upcoming winter session of Parliament, scheduled to commence on December 1, 2023. Party leader Akhilesh Yadav revealed that discussions will take place with opposition partners to address what he describes as a systematic attempt to undermine the right to vote, a fundamental aspect of the Indian Constitution. If their issues are not addressed, the party intends to organize protests.

Concerns Over Electoral Roll Manipulation

Akhilesh Yadav criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that they have engaged a Noida-based firm to manipulate electoral rolls. According to Yadav, this company has been tasked with providing the BJP with detailed voter information, including which candidates individuals have voted for. He characterized this practice as a severe breach of the integrity of the electoral process, specifically the principle of the secret ballot.

The former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh referenced a letter from Rajeev Rai, the party’s Member of Parliament from Ghosi, which indicated credible reports that names of approximately 20,000 voters could be removed from electoral rolls in each assembly constituency under the Ghosi parliamentary seat. Yadav expressed frustration over the lack of response from the Election Commission of India, stating, “We are sending detailed written memorandums and complaints every single day, but no one is addressing them.” He emphasized that the party’s options are limited, leaving them no choice but to either raise the issue in Parliament or stage protests on the streets.

Tragic Incident Highlights Pressure on Election Officials

In a related development, Akhilesh Yadav presented a cheque of ₹2 lakh to the family of Vijay Verma, a Booth Level Officer (BLO) who tragically passed away on November 21 due to a brain hemorrhage, which his family alleges was exacerbated by intense pressure from senior officials to complete SIR-related tasks. During the presentation, Verma’s wife, Sangeeta, expressed her grief, accompanied by their 20-year-old son, Harshit.

Akhilesh Yadav raised questions about the urgency surrounding the SIR process, asking, “Why is the BJP in a hurry regarding the SIR exercise? Both the Election Commission and the BJP are hand in glove in the matter.” He pointed out that Uttar Pradesh holds the largest electorate in the country and argued that additional time should be granted to BLOs to complete their duties effectively.

Noting that the ongoing wedding season has occupied many people’s time, he called for an extension of the SIR deadline in Uttar Pradesh by a minimum of three months. Yadav’s statements reflect broader concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in the region, and the upcoming parliamentary session will likely provide a platform for these issues to be debated further.