Congress Alleges Voter List Irregularities in Uttar Pradesh, Claims Over 16,000 Changes in Pilibhit

Pilibhit, October 21 (Daily Kiran) : The Congress party has raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the voter list in Uttar Pradesh, specifically pointing to significant discrepancies during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. In a press conference held at the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters, party officials claimed that in the Pilibhit assembly constituency alone, 13,150 names were altered, 884 voters were removed, and 2,600 new names were added.

According to Congress, these changes affect a total of 16,554 voters. The party is calling for an investigation into these alleged irregularities and has indicated plans to pursue legal action to challenge the voter list modifications. Key figures at the press event included Rajendra Pal Gautam, the All India Congress Committee’s state in-charge, along with state president Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’, national spokesperson Supriya Shrinate, and Imran Masood, the party’s executive president and MP.

Rajendra Pal Gautam criticized the electoral process, stating that despite names being registered in the final draft of the voter list, changes were still made to voter details. He noted that in the Pilibhit constituency, 13,150 voters had their EPIC numbers and serial numbers unchanged, yet their names were altered. Additionally, he highlighted the removal of 884 voters, whom Congress asserts still reside in the area, while also raising concerns about the addition of 2,600 names of individuals who supposedly do not live there.

Gautam warned that if a voter’s identification number remains the same while another person’s name is registered, it could lead to confusion and difficulties for the actual voter on election day. He mentioned that Congress workers are also examining voter lists in other constituencies to uncover similar discrepancies.

Supriya Shrinate presented specific examples of voter details during the press conference, questioning the use of software in the process of changing names and removing or adding voters. She cited a case where the EPIC number 4G-MCM-4746 initially listed Mohammad Yusuf, a 35-year-old male, but now shows Hasrat, son of Ramzan Ali, also 35 years old. She emphasized that while the EPIC number, age, and gender remain consistent, the voter and father’s names differ, asserting that Congress has identified 13,150 such instances.

Shrinate further alleged that these changes occurred in groups at different times, raising questions about how and under whose authority these alterations were made. She criticized claims that officials lacked access to the software used for these modifications, calling for a thorough investigation. Notably, she recalled that in the 2022 assembly elections, BJP legislator Sanjay Gangwar won the constituency by a margin of just 6,930 votes.

The Congress party is asserting that over 16,000 changes to the voter list have surfaced in the same constituency. Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ expressed concern about voters not finding their names on the list despite having identification cards, labeling this a serious issue. She announced that the party would seek legal counsel and organize efforts to address objections related to the SIR process, framing the alleged discrepancies as a significant threat to democratic processes.

Supriya Shrinate has called for an investigation into the SIR process, urging voters to verify their names and details on the Election Commission’s website using their EPIC numbers. She also demanded clarity from district and sub-district officials regarding the alleged irregularities, raising questions about the projected increase in voter numbers versus the removal of names between 2024 and 2027. According to her, Uttar Pradesh had approximately 15.41 crore voters in 2024, and the data suggests that more names are being removed than added during this period.

Imran Masood, the Congress executive president, emphasized the responsibility of all citizens to ensure the accuracy of the voter list and protect the right to vote. He commended the party workers in Pilibhit for their efforts in investigating the voter list for discrepancies. Masood stated that Congress would take legal action regarding this matter and urged the public to check their names and details on the voter list, reporting any discrepancies to the relevant authorities.

The Congress leaders are demanding an investigation into the changes made to the voter list. However, the allegations raised during the press conference have not been independently verified, nor has the Election Commission provided its perspective on the matter.