Bypoll ahead, Mulayam complains to EC about poll roll

Sources in the EC said Mulayam requested the Commission to set right the state voters’ lists before the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, which might be held as early as April.

‘‘The Commission has assured us that it would be immediately looking into the irregularities that have crept into the electoral rolls,’’ the Samajwadi Party chief said.

He claimed that the previous BSP-BJP coalition government had intentionally deleted the names of SP workers in several constituencies, including Lucknow, Kanpur, Lakhimpurkhiri and many others, which are considered to be SP strongholds. ‘‘I have also received complaints from many voters that they have not yet received their photo identity cards,’’ he said.

Only recently the EC got complaints from Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh about a large number of ‘‘bogus voters’’ in the voters’ lists.

‘‘The discrepancies in the voters’ lists (in certain states) are considerable but not insurmountable. The EC is taking due note of the complaints and is in constant touch with state officials so as not to disturb the poll schedule,’’ Commission officials said.