Hyderabad election authorities have yet to act over alleged bulk voter deletions

Election authorities in Hyderabad had not taken action by Saturday against a person accused of attempting to secure the mass deletion of voters in Musheerabad constituency, The Hindu reported. The Booth Level Agent was alleged to have submitted more than 30 Form 7 claims seeking removal of a Congress worker and members of his family. The applications reportedly used a false declaration that the voters no longer lived at the address.

No criminal case had been filed under the Representation of the People Act, 1955, according to the report. Hyderabad District Election Officer R.V. Karnan said a decision would be taken after he reviewed a report from the relevant Electoral Registration Officer.

Karnan said each Booth Level Agent could file up to 30 deletion claims and no more than 10 in each instance. However, he also noted that providing false information about a voter’s residence could attract penal action, since applicants sign a declaration to that effect. The issue has also been reported in Bahadurpura and Goshamahal constituencies.

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee’s Election Cell said a BJP Booth Level Agent had brought a batch of Form 7 applications for submission in the latest incident. The polling station’s Booth Level Officer reportedly refused to accept the applications after receiving instructions not to take Form 7 forms in bulk. Video clips showing 15 forms with printed voter names and addresses, but no applicant name, circulated on social media.

The Booth Level Officer confirmed to The Hindu that the forms had been brought to him but said he refused to accept them. The source material does not establish whether the applications were valid, fraudulent or connected to an organised effort, and no final official finding had been reported.