An INDIA bloc delegation on Thursday submitted a memorandum to Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar, alleging that workers and booth-level agents of the Bharatiya Janata Party were pressuring booth-level officers (BLOs) in several districts to delete names of particular voters from the electoral rolls using Form-7.
Allegations and response
After the meeting, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) general secretary Vinod Kumar Pandey said complaints were emerging from districts including Garhwa, Godda and Chatra that BJP workers and their booth-level agents (BLAs) were coercing BLOs to remove voters' names. The INDIA bloc delegation also included leaders of the Congress, with state unit president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, and representatives of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation, according to the delegation.
The memorandum sought that the Chief Electoral Officer identify those allegedly involved and take action against them, the INDIA bloc said.
Responding to the allegations, CEO K Ravi Kumar reiterated safeguards in the current revision exercise and sought to allay concerns. He pointed out that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a public process under which claims and objections are being invited, and that eligible voters cannot be removed merely on the basis of pressure.
"The SIR process is transparent. Eligible voters' names cannot be deleted," the CEO said, adding that the details of Form-6 or Form-7 submissions — including numbers and names — are accessible through the election authority's channels.
What is Form-7 and the SIR process
Form-7 is the statutory form used to seek deletion of a name from the electoral roll. The CEO noted that booth-level agents can submit objections in bulk, with a limit of up to 10 forms a day to BLOs, a procedural detail that officials have emphasised to ensure transparency while processing requests.
Election officials have previously said the Special Intensive Revision is designed to update and correct electoral rolls by inviting public claims and objections, conducting verifications and ensuring that only legally valid deletions or additions are made.
Districts named in the memorandum
| District | Allegation |
|---|---|
| Garhwa | Reports of BJP workers/BLAs pressuring BLOs to delete particular voters |
| Godda | Similar complaints of coercion to remove names |
| Chatra | Allegations of targeted deletion requests |
Process safeguards and practical implications
Election officials reiterated that deletions require verification and that eligible electors will remain on rolls. At the same time, the delegation's complaint highlights concerns about the potential misuse of procedural forms — such as Form-7 — during a high‑intensity revision exercise.
- Form-7 is used to request deletion from the electoral roll; submissions must be examined before any action.
- BLOs are the frontline officials responsible for updating rolls at the polling-station level.
- BLAs (booth-level agents) can submit objections in limited numbers to BLOs, a procedure that has been pointed out by the CEO.
For voters, the immediate implications are practical: citizens who believe their names have been wrongly removed or who receive notices should check the electoral roll and file a counter claim or objection in accordance with the SIR guidelines. Election authorities typically publish lists of claims and deletions, and maintain grievance mechanisms at the district and CEO office level.
Political backdrop
The INDIA bloc's move to approach the CEO came amid heightened scrutiny of electoral rolls ahead of forthcoming electoral cycles. Opposition parties have frequently raised concerns over roll revisions, and the filing of a formal memorandum signals intent to document and escalate alleged irregularities through official channels.
The CEO's public assurance that the SIR process is transparent and that eligible voters' names cannot be removed aims to balance administrative procedure with political sensitivity. Any further action — such as identification of individuals responsible for pressuring BLOs or formal enquiries — would depend on the CEO's review of complaints and documentary evidence submitted by the delegation.
Officials at the district election offices have been asked to report any irregularities and to ensure that claims, objections and verifications under SIR are processed as per the rules. The INDIA bloc has indicated it will monitor the situation and expects the electoral machinery to act on verified complaints.
