Lok Sabha Elections: BJP cautions poll panel of ‘manipulations’ in electoral roll revisions, lists demands

“The most common mistake is the presence of dead voters in the electoral list. This normally is in connivance between the party in power and the district administration. In the past, we have been told the deletion of the deceased takes place once the death certificate is received.

Now, with the digitization of death certificates, the Election Commission must ask respective DEOs to ensure that they receive details of the deceased from corporations/ municipalities/ panchayat as the case may be. The DEOs should be made responsible to ensure the accuracy of the electoral list,” a letter sent by the BJP to Deputy Election Commissioner stated.

The BJP also demanded that those state government offices and officials involved in the government schemes should be kept out of the preparation of electoral rolls.

Alleging that manipulation in the electoral list is “a chronic problem in Bengal”, the BJP requested the Commission to appoint a Special Observer from outside the state to oversee the process.

“While we are conscious that the panchayat elections are held under a different Act and not under the superintendence of Election Commission of India, but the human beings involved in the process will be the same in the forthcoming elections to the Lok Sabha. We request a list be prepared of such erring officers and they be kept out of all future electoral duties,” the party said, urging the Commission to ensure that no civic or contractual workers be involved in the entire electoral process – from rolls revision to counting of votes.