Amidst SIR outrage and heated debates on the revision process, new data has emerged on the deleted voters. More than 15,600 applications were filled in bulk to delete voters from electoral rolls in the SIR process in Gujarat’s Somnath assembly constituency in January, the majority of them belonging to the Muslim community, according to the reports published by the Newslaundry.
The data shows that the constituency has 2.6 lakh voters, and as per the Congress workers, Muslims make up 50,000 votes in the constituency.
As per the reports, 15,663 Form 7 applications are utilized to seek the deletion of names from the list, targeting Muslim voters in towns and villages across the constituency.
As per the reports of the Newslaundry, the details were digitally printed in English with the names handwritten in Gujarati, which has raised concerns about organizing the filing.
In apparent deviation from Election Commission guidelines limiting mass filings, each of the 269 objectors reportedly filed more than 50 Form 7 applications. Regulations allow booth-level agents to submit only 10 forms daily, and substantial volumes require personal scrutiny by election officials.
It has also been noted that a few Form 7 applications were also absent or “permanently shifted,” and other applications were labeled as “not an Indian citizen.”
Officials stated that submitting false declarations is punishable under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and can result in jail terms. An Election Commission source told Newslaundry that criminal cases should be registered in instances where fraudulent use of identity is confirmed.
