EC officials warn against propaganda about rise in Muslim voters in UP
Lucknow: Unverified claims about a rise in Muslim voters by Hindutva circles in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with Election Commission officials warning against propaganda based on religion.
According to Kashmir Media Service, unofficial analyses after the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls claimed Muslim voters increased from 18.6% to 19.5% and made up 35% of new registrations.
The Election Commission does not collect religion-based voter data. State Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa clarified that voter registration follows electoral rules and no categorisation is done on the basis of faith.
Officials said complaints about duplicate or suspicious entries are examined under prescribed rules. Election experts advised caution, noting estimates of religious composition rely on indirect demographic assumptions without official data. They said such claims should not be treated as fact without verification.
Political observers said Muslim voters influence outcomes in many UP constituencies, making discussions on voter rolls politically sensitive. Analysts added that parties across the spectrum monitor revisions closely, while some observers allege the debate is being used to create concern over demographic changes despite absence of official data.
