Congress moves ECI to prevent ‘arbitrary’ deletion of voters’ names ‘using Form-7’
New Delhi,: The Congress has raised the alarm over irregularities in the ongoing revision of electoral rolls, saying the misuse of Form-7 applications to delete voters’ names and warning that the practice could be used to secure an “unfair electoral advantage” ahead of upcoming state elections.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the party sought the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) immediate intervention to prevent what it described as large-scale disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
In a letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two other election commissioners, Congress general-secretary K.C. Venugopal said that Form-7 — meant for deletion of names in specific circumstances — was being weaponised during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway in 12 states.
Calling for urgent corrective measures, Venugopal urged the ECI to institute “strict vigilance and real-time supervision” over the voter deletion process, including close monitoring of Form-7 applications, to prevent “arbitrary, mass or mala fide deletions” of eligible electors.
The Congress leader said that party workers and supporters, particularly those perceived to be opposed to the “ruling regime”, were being selectively targeted.
He demanded immediate identification of individuals, including members or workers of the ruling establishment and “other unknown persons,” who are misusing Form-7 applications to delete voters’ names across states.
Flagging the issue as one that strikes at the heart of electoral democracy, Venugopal also sought full disclosure of data related to Form-7 applications.
He urged the Election Commission to place in the public domain comprehensive, disaggregated and easily accessible information for all 12 states undergoing the SIR exercise. This, he said, should include the total number of Form-7 applications filed, accepted, rejected and pending, along with constituency-wise and booth-level break-ups for the relevant revision period.
The Congress’s intervention comes amid heightened political scrutiny of electoral roll revisions, with Opposition parties alleging that procedural tools are being misused to influence voter lists in poll-bound states.
