A Mumbai Congress delegation on Monday sought an extension of the deadline for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Maharashtra, alleging that the process could exclude eligible voters and that complaints had emerged over the handling of voter forms.
The delegation met Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam and submitted what Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad described as evidence of alleged irregularities. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gaikwad said the exercise was cumbersome and demanded strict action against anyone found deliberately deleting voters’ names to benefit the ruling party.
The allegations have not been established by the electoral authorities. According to PTI, Gaikwad said the delegation had received several complaints linked to Forms 6, 7 and 8, which are used for applications concerning new voter registration, objections or deletions, and corrections or changes in electoral-roll entries.
Gaikwad also alleged that booth-level officers were not functioning properly in some cases. She said the concerns had raised questions about the impartiality of the Election Commission of India and urged officials to ensure that no eligible voter was deprived of the right to vote.
After the meeting, Gaikwad said Chockalingam assured the delegation that strict action would be taken against those found responsible for deliberate deletions. She also said the Chief Electoral Officer had indicated that the Election Commission would issue a notification on the issue. The details and timing of any such notification were not provided in the report.
The delegation argued that voters should be given sufficient time to respond to objections and complete the required procedures under the revision exercise. It also questioned the urgency of completing the process, with Gaikwad asking why it was being conducted in haste when Maharashtra is not due to hold elections until 2029, according to PTI.
The request for an extension places the focus on how electoral-roll revision is administered at the local level. In Mumbai, the process depends on residents receiving information, accessing the required forms, submitting objections or corrections and obtaining assistance where necessary. Any delay, procedural confusion or failure to process complaints can affect whether an eligible resident’s name remains on the roll.
The Congress delegation included former ministers Aslam Shaikh and Naseem Khan, legislators Amin Patel and Jyoti Gaikwad, and other party functionaries. The allegations concerning voter deletions, forms and booth-level officers remain claims made by the party and would require verification by the relevant electoral authorities.
The next official step, as reported by Gaikwad, is the issuance of a notification by the Election Commission on the concerns raised during the meeting. The delegation has also asked the authorities to extend the SIR deadline and provide voters more time to complete the required procedures.
