Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the identification of nearly 9.8 lakh voters for deletion from electoral rolls in Odisha, urging the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to ensure that no eligible voter is deprived of their democratic rights.
A delegation of BJD leaders submitted a memorandum to the CEO, calling for a foolproof mechanism to safeguard the rights of eligible voters ahead of the preparatory exercise for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. The party warned that the development has triggered apprehensions of large-scale disenfranchisement.
According to the memorandum, around 9.8 lakh electors have been marked for potential deletion during the preliminary verification phase — significantly higher than normal annual trends. It also noted that nearly 10 lakh names were reportedly deleted during the recent annual revision, exceeding the usual average of about seven lakh.
With the SIR likely to be conducted in Odisha after a long gap, the BJD cautioned that deletions could rise further in the absence of adequate safeguards. The memorandum highlighted multiple complaints from voters alleging wrongful deletion despite residing at their registered addresses. It further pointed to reports that mandatory field verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) was not properly conducted in several cases, raising concerns over procedural lapses.
BJD leaders said the unprecedented scale of deletions, coupled with nearly two lakh objections filed within a short span, indicates widespread concern and possible inaccuracies in the process.
They expressed particular concern over migrant and temporary workers, whose names risk being removed due to their absence during verification. The party noted that women migrant labourers and their families are especially vulnerable, as their names are reportedly being deleted due to temporary absence from their place of residence.
“This is a matter of serious concern as many of these women belong to economically and socially vulnerable sections and may not be in a position to respond promptly to notices or verification requirements,” the memorandum stated.
The BJD urged authorities to adopt a humane, inclusive and sensitive approach during verification, ensuring proper physical and documented checks by BLOs before any deletion is finalised. The party also observed that recent directions for re-verification indicate possible irregularities in the process. Similar concerns in other states further underline the need for transparency, due process and accountability in electoral roll revisions, it added.
Appealing to the CEO, the BJD stressed that the deletion process must be made foolproof, with thorough ground-level verification to ensure no eligible voter is excluded.
Referring to the constitutional sanctity of voting rights under Article 326, the party urged the CEO and the Election Commission of India to ensure that no deletion is finalised without rigorous and verifiable field inquiry. It also called for a comprehensive state-wide re-verification of all cases flagged for deletion.