World · India Bureau
BJP legislators' voter deletion applications concentrated in Delhi neighbourhood
Hundreds of applications to remove voters from electoral rolls in Delhi's Mustafabad constituency have been filed by BJP-backed legislators, with removals heavily concentrated in three specific neighbourhoods. The BJP has denied orchestrating the campaign.
LSN India ·
An analysis of voter deletion applications in Delhi's Mustafabad constituency reveals that 796 Form 7 petitions—used to challenge voter eligibility—were filed by 20 BJP-backed legislators, with a striking concentration in just 25 polling booths across three neighbourhoods.
The applications, which target individuals claimed to be ineligible voters, show a geographical pattern that raises questions about the targeting methodology. The concentration in specific areas of the constituency suggests either coordinated action or a targeted approach to particular voter populations.
Party officials have pushed back against suggestions of a deliberate campaign, with BJP representatives asserting they have not directed the filing of these applications. The party has maintained that individual legislators have acted independently in filing the petitions.
Form 7 applications are a legal mechanism allowing citizens to challenge voter registrations, but their concentrated deployment in specific neighbourhoods has sparked debate about electoral fairness. Election officials have not yet commented on whether the applications are proceeding through normal verification processes.
The issue highlights ongoing tensions around electoral rolls in India's major cities, where officials regularly grapple with concerns about duplicate registrations, deceased voters, and residents who have relocated. Activists and opposition parties have raised concerns about the selective use of deletion mechanisms ahead of elections.