Pune, Maharashtra, India
Amid the ongoing political debate over voter list revisions, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya made significant claims regarding large scale deletions from electoral rolls, linking the issue to alleged illegal entries in both West Bengal and Maharashtra.
Speaking in Pune, Kirit Somaiya said that around 90 lakh names have been removed from voter lists during the recent revision exercise. He referred to districts bordering Bangladesh, such as Murshidabad and Malda, stating that a substantial number of names were deleted from these regions.
He claimed that nearly 10 to 12 lakh names of alleged Bangladeshi nationals were removed from voter lists in these border districts, suggesting that the exercise identified ineligible entries.
Kirit Somaiya further extended his claims to Maharashtra, stating that similar concerns exist in various parts of the state. He mentioned areas including Mumbra, Sillod, Malegaon, Amravati, Mankhurd, and Malvani as regions where such issues have been observed.
He alleged that in these areas, many individuals may have obtained official documents like birth certificates, but their names do not appear in the voter lists, raising questions about eligibility and verification processes.
The remarks come at a time when voter list revisions, especially in West Bengal, have become a major political issue, with different parties presenting contrasting views. While authorities have maintained that such exercises are aimed at removing duplicate and ineligible entries, opposition parties have raised concerns about possible wrongful deletions.
Kirit Somaiya’s statement reflects the BJP’s position that the revision process is necessary to maintain the integrity of electoral rolls. However, these claims remain political allegations and have not been independently verified.
The issue of voter list accuracy continues to dominate political discussions, with questions being raised about documentation, eligibility, and fairness in the electoral process.
As elections approach in various states, the debate over voter roll revisions is expected to intensify, with political parties continuing to present differing narratives and interpretations of the data.
