Opposition claims 3 lakh names missing from Nalasopara voter list, accuses BJP over SIR data

A fresh controversy has erupted in Maharashtra politics over the electoral roll of the Nalasopara Assembly constituency. It is being claimed that a full three lakh names have dropped off the list. The discussion began with figures from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The opposition has made serious allegations against the BJP over the issue.

According to the opposition, voters brought in from states such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh were registered on the Nalasopara electoral roll. It is alleged that the election was won by exploiting this registration, said to have been carried out before the polls. Questions are being raised about the changes in the roll, citing figures presented by Rohit Pawar.

However, the actual source of these figures, their scope and exactly what conclusion they support need to be examined separately. It would not be right to draw a firm conclusion on the basis of figures alone.

If a large number of names have indeed dropped off the list, the reasons need to be understood. Some names can be removed because voters have moved from one place to another, because of entries of dead voters, because the same name was entered twice, or because of other eligibility conditions. The figures on reduced names alone therefore do not show that all the deleted entries were bogus.

The Election Commission's response will be important in this matter. The Commission will have to explain the official figures on changes in the electoral roll, the reasons for deletions and the process of verification.

The opposition alleges that the purported bogus voter registrations have wronged candidates who contested the election honestly. But how many names were actually deleted in Nalasopara, how many of those entries turned out to be ineligible, and whether the alleged bogus registrations have any link to this matter can be answered only through official information and evidence.