SP alleges irregularities behind placing 83% voters in category ‘C’ in Ghaziabad

The Samajwadi Party has submitted a memorandum to Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) alleging serious irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state, particularly in Ghaziabad.

The party has sought immediate investigation and corrective measures in the Ghaziabad assembly constituency, noting that 2,47,364 voters, or 83 per cent, have been placed in category “C” by the BLOs.

Advertisement

State president Shyam Lal Pal submitted the memorandum on Wednesday at the behest of party chief and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, alleging that the concerned voters had provided the necessary details to the BLO as per the 2003 voter list.

Despite this, they have been placed in category “C”. As a result, unnecessary notices will be issued to all such voters, who will then be forced to submit documents without any reason. Apart from this, the memorandum also raises serious concerns regarding the availability of voter lists and their swapping in various districts.

In Varanasi’s Pindra Assembly constituency, the BLO has been provided with the second voter list of 2003 for polling booth numbers 214, 215, 216 and 276, while the list uploaded on the portal is different. This discrepancy is causing difficulties in submitting the calculation form, the memorandum alleges.

Similarly, in Kasganj (Kasganj, Amanpur and Patiali assembly constituencies), the original 2003 voter list has reportedly been taken back and replaced with a second list, raising concerns that the names of lakhs of voters may be deleted, it added.

On the other hand, in Chandauli (Mughalsarai Assembly constituency), the 2003 voter list is not available on the portal for polling booths 40, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 216 and 359. As a result, the calculation forms of all voters are being uploaded under category “C”. Meanwhile, in Ballia (Basdih Assembly), 20-25 fewer calculation forms were distributed at each polling station, due to which the forms of an estimated 15,000-20,000 voters could not be submitted, raising concerns that their names may be removed.

The party said that if these errors are not rectified immediately, lakhs of voters will be deprived of their franchise, and questions will be raised on the transparency of the SIR process.