Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has escalated his allegations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in collusion with the Election Commission of India (ECI), is orchestrating a large-scale deletion of over 50,000 voters in each Assembly constituency where his party or the broader INDIA bloc showed strength. He claims the irregularities are being carried out under the guise of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Yadav made the charges public during a press conference at the SP headquarters, coinciding with his late father Mulayam Singh Yadav’s birth anniversary. He stated that his party has “received information” about “major preparations” by the BJP and ECI to purge electoral rolls selectively.
To back his claims, Yadav cited election data showing a shift in “Assembly-segment leads” — between the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and the **2024 Lok Sabha polls — as evidence of BJP’s deteriorating ground strength. He argued that because his party and the INDIA bloc made significant gains in 2024, they are now being deliberately targeted in the SIR process.
Yadav further produced an audio recording, allegedly featuring a sub-divisional magistrate, which he claims demonstrates “technical issues” and undue coordination in the exercise. He named his own constituency, Kannauj, as a “target”, warning of a systematic attempt to disenfranchise voters.
In addition, he questioned the timing of the SIR exercise. Conducting a massive voter revision during the wedding season, Yadav argued, reduces the possibility of thorough door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs). He urged the Election Commission to extend the SIR deadline, issue a standard operating procedure (SOP) for political parties, and allow more time for scrutiny.
Yadav also warned that SP workers are on high alert: “We will have to fight the paper battle as well; we have to win elections.”
EC Responds — Calls for Proof:
The Election Commission, responding firmly, asked Yadav to substantiate his claims with documentary evidence — including constituency-wise numbers, names of allegedly deleted electors, and any formal complaints filed. According to the EC, their published data does not show deletions anywhere near the scale of Yadav’s claims, and according to existing procedures, “suo-moto deletions” during an election year are strictly prohibited.
In its letter, the EC cautioned that wrongful mass deletion of electors could violate the Representation of the People Act, exposing responsible officers to criminal liability.
Political Implications and Analysis:
- Democracy and Trust Under Strain: If Yadav’s allegations hold, it would be a serious blow to democratic norms, raising questions about the integrity of the SIR process and institutional impartiality.
- Ahead of 2027 Polls: With over 400 days to go before the next Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, allegations of voter roll manipulation could increasingly dominate political discourse. Yadav’s warnings might energize SP cadres to closely monitor BLO activity at the grassroots.
- Opposition Unity: Framing this as a targeted purge against the INDIA bloc may serve to galvanize opposition parties, potentially strengthening their unity against the BJP.
- EC’s Credibility: The ECI’s demand for evidence underscores the gravity of the accusation. If Yadav fails to produce hard proof, the claims may backfire; but if he succeeds, it could spark broader investigations and institutional crisis.
