New Delhi (The Hawk): It has been reported that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has requested documentation from Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav to back up his claim that the ECI removed the names of approximately 20,000 voters from the electoral rolls in almost all of the 403 Assembly constituencies of Uttar Pradesh at the behest of the BJP and its aides.
The polling body stated that there is no basis in law for a caste or religiously based electoral roll, and instead cited provisions in the Representation of the People Act of 1950 and the Representation of the People Act of 1951 that include penalties and criminal liabilities for undue interference, including false declaration and promoting enmity between classes.
According to sources, the EC has asked Yadav to submit documentary proof based on which he levelled the allegation, as the statement about the alleged mass deletion of names, that too of a particular group of voters, is extremely serious and has far-reaching implications on the integrity of the poll process.
The Election Commission has reportedly asked Yadav to provide details to the Commission by November 10 so that appropriate action can be taken in light of a statement he is reported to have made while addressing the media recently. Yadav is a seasoned politician and the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
According to EC sources, Yadav has been asked to provide data on the deletion of names, broken down by Assembly. This data should include the names and numbers of alleged erroneous deletions, as well as any documentation or papers pertaining to the voters whose names were deleted.
According to the sources, the SP leader has also been asked to provide specifics regarding any complaint of deleted voter names submitted by his party with a DEO or CEO.
(Inputs from Agencies)
