Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 15: The Delhi unit of the Congress on Monday alleged that a large number of names had been deleted from the electoral rolls at several polling booths in the Chandni Chowk Assembly constituency during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav said the party would strongly raise the issue and also take up cases involving people who had recently become homeless. He said Congress workers would assist eligible voters during the claims and objections process and, if necessary, approach the courts.

The allegations were made during a training workshop for Congress Booth Level Agents (BLA-1) from various Assembly constituencies in Delhi. The workers were briefed on the SIR process and the procedure to help voters whose names may be missing from the draft electoral roll.

Yadav said the party would pay particular attention to Dalits, minorities, residents of resettlement colonies and other eligible voters who, according to the Congress, could be affected by the revision.

The party plans to establish voter assistance centres in slum clusters, offices of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), village 'chaupals' and major markets during the claims and objections period.

AICC Delhi in-charge Qazi Nizamuddin, who said he had worked on voters' rights-related issues during the SIR exercise in Uttarakhand, shared his experience with the party workers.

Nizamuddin said Indian citizenship was the basic criterion for inclusion in the electoral roll and asserted that being homeless or not having a permanent address did not take away a person's right to vote. He said the SIR process had caused anxiety among sections of voters and urged Congress workers to help people safeguard their electoral rights.

The workshop also covered the legal aspects of the revision process, including responding to notices and addressing discrepancies and anomalies in electoral rolls.

The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's office has said eligible persons whose names are missing from the draft roll can seek inclusion by filing Form 6 along with the prescribed declaration and supporting documents. The claims and objections period is scheduled to continue until September 30, while the final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on November 4.

The ongoing revision has already seen substantial voter-related activity across Delhi. According to official figures reported earlier this month, more than 2.18 lakh Form 6 applications seeking inclusion had been submitted by September 1, while over 51,000 objections had also been filed. Around 47.7 lakh names were excluded from the draft electoral roll published on August 31.

The Congress's concerns also come amid legal scrutiny of aspects of the Delhi SIR. The Delhi High Court recently dealt with a plea filed by Devender Yadav and another Congress functionary challenging the requirement for certain previously enrolled voters to submit a declaration stating that they were first-time applicants when seeking inclusion through Form 6.