It also reiterated its comitmenrt to transparent and inclusive polling. Congress’ Rahul Gandhi has targeted the Election Commission over the deletion of more than 700 people from Delhi’s Bela Estate from electoral rolls, saying this was another example of vote theft.
In a post on social media platform X, he said while Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar “will go”, the “system that made him do this will also have to answer”. In its response, the Election Commission said the matter has already been addressed by concerned ERO, and the dates for filing claims & Objections have been extended.
In a post on social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi said while Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar “will go”, the “system that made him do this will also have to answer”.
Now, the reports on exclusion of Bella Estate voters has provided fresh ammunition to the Leader of the Opposition. This isn’t SIR – this is a method of vote theft. From those who already have the least, their only power is being snatched away,” his post read. “As per the instructions for SIR, the BLO was required to undertake house-to-house visits for distribution of the Enumeration Forms to electors at their registered addresses.
Due to demolition of the dwelling units, these electors were no longer residing at the registered address. Yet, 727 people’s names have been struck off.
In his post, Gandhi said having a house or not has no connection to the right to vote. “CEC Gyanesh Kumar himself has said that “House Number 0” is for the homeless. Thus their status as “Ordinary resident” as per section 20(7) of the RP Act 1970 read with instruction manual of the ER is changed.
As such, as per the extant instructions, BLO has correctly placed these electors in the ASDD list,” read a statement from the Commission issued earlier.
