Aam Aadmi Party Accuses BJP Of Orchestrating Mass Voter Deletion Ahead Of 2025 Delhi Elections

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating a "mass voter deletion" scheme in Delhi. This allegation comes as the city prepares for its Assembly elections, expected in early 2025. Arvind Kejriwal, AAP's National Convenor, led a delegation to the Election Commission, presenting 3,000 pages of evidence to support their claims.

Arvind Kejriwal highlighted that many votes being removed belong to underprivileged groups, including Scheduled Castes and Dalits residing in slums. He emphasised the significance of each vote, stating, "For a common person, a single vote holds immense value, as it grants them citizenship of this country." These remarks were made during a media briefing after meeting with the Election Commission.

Allegations Against BJP

Kejriwal further alleged that a BJP official from Shahdara had discreetly submitted a list containing 11,008 voters for deletion. The Election Commission reportedly began addressing this matter without public knowledge. In Janakpuri, 24 BJP members allegedly sought to remove 4,874 votes. Similarly, in Tughlakabad, 15 BJP workers aimed to delete 2,435 votes.

At Booth No. 117 in Tughlakabad alone, there are 1,337 registered voters. However, two individuals attempted to delete 554 votes from this booth. Kejriwal pointed out that this equates to an attempt to remove nearly 40% of votes from one location.

Demands and Assurances

AAP has called for an immediate stop to these mass deletions and urged that FIRs be filed against those submitting such applications. The party seeks accountability and transparency in the voting process to ensure fairness in the upcoming elections.

The former Delhi chief minister shared that the Election Commission provided several assurances. Firstly, no mass deletions will occur before the elections. Secondly, anyone wishing to delete votes must now complete Form 7. Additionally, before any deletions are finalised, a field inquiry will be conducted by the Booth Level Officer (BLO), accompanied by representatives from other political parties.

Field Inquiry Protocols

Another assurance given was regarding multiple deletion requests by a single individual. If someone applies for more than five deletions, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) will personally conduct a field inquiry with representatives from other parties present. This measure aims to prevent wrongful deletions and maintain electoral integrity.

The AAP's allegations have sparked significant attention as Delhi gears up for its Assembly elections in early 2025. The party's demand for transparency and accountability underscores the importance of fair electoral processes in maintaining democratic values.