New Delhi: AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday launched a scathing attack on BJP, accusing it of resorting to electoral malpractices ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, which most likely will take place in February 2025.
Addressing a press conference the former Delhi chief minister criticised the BJP for its alleged “malpractices” in these states. “We will not allow such actions to undermine democracy in Delhi,” he said. The BJP won thumping victories—forming an independent government in Haryana and leading a coalition in Maharashtra.
In a strongly worded letter to the District Electoral Officer (DEO) of New Delhi, Kejriwal highlighted a sudden and significant rise in voter addition and deletion applications within the New Delhi assembly constituency, he is the sitting MLA from the seat and also its candidate. “I am writing to bring to your immediate attention a significant rise in the number of voter addition and deletion applications received over the past few days,” he wrote in the letter.
The data accompanying the letter
In his letter to the DEO, Kejriwal cited data to substantiate his claims of malpractices in his constituency.
Voter addition applications (Forms 6): A total of 7,876 applications were received between October 29 and December 25, 2024, constituting 7.37% of the constituency’s total voter base of 1,06,873.
Voter deletion applications (Forms 7): A total of 5,692 applications, representing 5.33% of the total voters, were submitted during the same period.
Stringent measures to prevent voter deletions
In his letter, Kejriwal also outlined concerns over the electoral process and urged strict adherence to guidelines to ensure fairness and transparency. He emphasised the need for the assistant electoral registration officer to personally verify 10% of processed forms and conduct on-ground verifications in polling stations where applications exceeded 4% of the voter base.
Apart from this, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) should be instructed to cross-verify deletion applications, particularly those exceeding 2% of total electors or cases where individuals had filed more than five objections. To uphold transparency, Kejriwal demanded that verification schedules be shared with booth level agents of all political parties for fair oversight. He also raised concerns about a potential coordinated effort to manipulate electoral rolls, questioning the intentions of individuals seeking large-scale deletions, “Who are these individuals? At whose behest are they operating?”
The three-term former CM also called for stringent measures to prevent any unwarranted voter deletions unless backed by verifiable evidence.
