Opposition Demands Voter Roll Corrections Before Local Elections

Opposition leaders in Maharashtra have called for a delay in local body elections until the electoral rolls are rectified, citing concerns over “highly compromised and manipulated” voter lists. The leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray, met with State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare and Chief Electoral Officer S. Chockalingam on October 15, 2023, to address alleged irregularities in the voter registrations.

During a joint press conference following their meeting with election officials, the opposition leaders claimed that the integrity of the upcoming elections could be undermined by the current state of the electoral lists. Thackeray emphasized that the election body must either conduct fair elections or streamline candidate selection processes. He stated, “Officials cited the Supreme Court to justify proceeding with polls, but nowhere has the court said elections must be held with a faulty voter list.”

The controversy intensified when Sharad Pawar, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), joined the opposition delegation on October 14, 2023, but did not attend the press briefing the following day. The coalition of opposition parties expressed concern that ruling factions were attempting to normalize irregularities in the voter lists. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded to these allegations by labeling the opposition as a “confused alliance” attempting to create a narrative ahead of the elections.

Thackeray further claimed that the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition had previously alerted the Election Commission regarding potential interference by BJP workers in the voter rolls. He pointed out that all major parties, except the BJP, have raised concerns about these issues. He remarked on the refusal to utilize Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) during the Mumbai civic body elections, as well as the lack of transparency regarding CCTV footage, which he deemed further evidence of irregularities.

Evidence of Voter List Manipulation

The leaders provided specific examples during their press conference, asserting that the electoral rolls contained numerous anomalies. Jayant Patil highlighted that many voters’ addresses were either incorrect or outdated, stating, “In Murbad (Thane), 400 voters have just a dash instead of a residential address, while in Badnera (Amravati), 450 voters have a zero before their address.” He also mentioned that in Kamptee (Nagpur), 867 names had no address at all, indicating systemic errors rather than mere clerical mistakes.

Patil further claimed that one individual, Sushma Gupta, appeared under six different Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers in Nalasopara, but all entries vanished shortly after media coverage on August 12, 2023. “Who deleted them? Who verified the identities? No officer has answered,” he questioned, demanding accountability for the discrepancies.

The opposition leaders also alleged that the electoral database is being managed by external agencies beyond the control of the State Election Commission (SEC) and the Election Commission of India (ECI). Thackeray reiterated their position, saying, “Democracy cannot run on manipulated rolls… Parties could not be expected to contest elections under such circumstances.”

Call for Transparency and Accountability

As the local body polls are anticipated to occur within the next two months or early next year, the opposition has expressed their intention to pursue further actions if the SEC does not initiate a comprehensive rectification process of the electoral database. The leaders voiced their commitment to ensuring that voters can participate in a fair electoral process devoid of manipulation.

Fadnavis, while dismissing the opposition’s claims, remarked that these meetings were merely attempts to divert attention from their political failures. He accused the opposition of attacking constitutional institutions rather than addressing their electoral shortcomings.

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has characterized the opposition’s claims as opportunistic politics designed to serve their agenda. Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde criticized the Maha Vikas Aghadi bloc for raising issues only when they are politically convenient.

As the situation unfolds, the opposition leaders remain steadfast in their resolve to ensure the integrity of the electoral process in Maharashtra, advocating for the necessary corrections to the voter rolls before any elections proceed.