The Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer orders an investigation into allegations of more than 16,000 voter list irregularities in the Pilibhit Sadar Assembly constituency, as claimed by the Congress. The alleged changes were made between July and September.
On Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) announced an investigation into allegations of errors in the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in the Pilibhit Sadar Assembly constituency. The move came hours after the Congress alleged that more than 13,000 voters' names were changed after the final list was released in April, while their voter identity card numbers and serial numbers remained the same.
According to the Opposition party, more than 800 persons were deleted from the voter list despite residing in the constituency. About 2,600 names were added of individuals who allegedly did not live there, bringing the total number of affected voters to over 16,000.
Congress leader Rajendra Pal Gautam claimed at a press conference on Wednesday that the alleged changes to voter lists were made between July and September, three months after the final rolls were published. He alleged that similar irregularities could have happened in other constituencies.
The investigation by Pilibhit district election officer found that searching Electors Photo Identity Card numbers of certain voters online displayed the details of other voters. The CEO removed the constituency’s electoral registration officer and the voter registration center operator, and directed district election officers to examine the electoral rolls of all Assembly constituencies in their jurisdiction and submit reports within two days.
The allegations come amid protests by the Congress and other Opposition parties against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the functioning of the Election Commission and the alleged irregularities in how the voter roll is being revised.
Source:
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