New Delhi: BJD MP Dr. Sasmit Patra has written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, raising “urgent and serious concerns” over the identification of nearly 9.8 lakh electors for potential deletion during the preparatory phase of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Odisha.
In his letter addressed to the Election Commission of India, Patra said that while maintaining accurate electoral rolls is essential, the “scale, pattern, and process” of the proposed deletions raise serious concerns about possible wrongful disenfranchisement.
Citing reports and administrative acknowledgements, the BJD leader pointed to what he described as prima facie evidence of procedural irregularities, including complaints from electors who claim they have been wrongly marked for deletion despite residing at their registered addresses.
In a post on X, he also flagged alleged lapses in mandatory field verification, stating that in several cases, Booth Level Officers did not carry out physical verification before identifying voters for deletion, calling it a deviation from established procedures.
Patra further highlighted that the scale of the exercise – around 9.8 lakh electors – was “unprecedented” and significantly higher than normal annual deletion patterns, suggesting possible systemic errors or overly broad criteria.
The letter noted that nearly two lakh objections (Form-7 cases) have been filed within a short period, leading to intervention and temporary suspension of scrutiny, which he said reflects widespread public concern.
Referring to corrective steps by the Chief Electoral Officer in Odisha, Patra said directions for re-verification, including partial mandatory field checks and assurances of restoration of wrongly deleted names, indicate the presence of “non-trivial errors” in the process.
He also mentioned a broader government-directed review of the deletions and noted that similar issues in other states have drawn judicial attention, particularly regarding transparency and due process.
Stressing the constitutional importance of voting rights under Article 326 of the Constitution of India, Patra urged the poll body to take immediate measures. These include ensuring no deletion is finalised without proper field inquiry, conducting a comprehensive state-wide re-verification, and mandating public disclosure of detailed data on proposed deletions.
He also called for an independent audit mechanism in districts with large discrepancies, strengthening grievance redressal systems, issuing a detailed response outlining corrective steps, and deputing an Election Commission team to Odisha to review the situation and submit a report.
Patra expressed hope that the Election Commission would act with urgency to safeguard the integrity, inclusiveness, and credibility of the electoral process in the state.
