Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra on Tuesday raised serious concerns about the possible deletion of nearly 9.8 lakh voters in Odisha. The issue is linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, reported ANI.
“9.8 lakh electors deleted in pre-SIR exercise in Odisha”: BJD MP Sasmit Patra urges inquiry, transparency
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In a letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Patra urged the Election Commission to ensure that no voter is removed without proper जांच (inquiry) and transparency, reported ANI.
Concerns over process and transparency
Patra said that while updating electoral rolls is important, the scale and method of the current exercise are worrying. He noted, “approximately 9.8 lakh electors have been identified for potential deletion… the scale, pattern, and process raise serious concerns.”
He also claimed there is early evidence suggesting possible irregularities. According to him, there is a “real risk of wrongful disenfranchisement,” meaning eligible voters could be removed unfairly.
One of the key concerns raised was about the role of Booth Level Officers. Patra alleged that in several cases, proper physical verification was not carried out before marking voters for deletion. He wrote that such lapses “constitute a deviation from established electoral procedures and raise serious questions about the integrity of the process.”
Surge in complaints and objections
The BJD MP highlighted that a large number of objections have already been filed by voters. Around 2 lakh complaints (under Form 7) were reportedly submitted in a short period.
This surge in grievances even forced authorities to temporarily pause scrutiny, indicating widespread public concern about possible errors in the voter list revision.
Reference to similar issues in other states
Patra also pointed out that similar voter deletion concerns in other states have drawn attention from the judiciary. Courts have stressed the need for transparency, due process, and easy access to correction mechanisms for voters, as per the news agency.
He warned that without proper safeguards, the current exercise could lead to the unintended exclusion of eligible voters.
Key demands to the Election Commission
In his letter, Patra made several recommendations to the Election Commission of India, including:
– No final deletion without proper and verifiable field inquiry
– A fresh, state-wide re-verification of all flagged cases
– Public disclosure of detailed data on proposed deletions
– Independent audits in districts with large discrepancies
– Stronger grievance redressal systems for affected voters
– A detailed response from the Commission on corrective steps
– Deployment of an Election Commission team to review the situation in Odisha
– Ongoing electoral roll revision exercise
The Special Intensive Revision process in Odisha began earlier this month, with voter list updates expected in the third phase.
After Phase I was completed in Bihar, Phase II of the exercise has been extended to several states, including Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, along with Union Territories such as Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.
The Special Intensive Revision process in Odisha began earlier this month, with voter list updates expected in the third phase.
(With ANI Inputs)