UP Congress Sounds Alarm: Right to Vote Allegedly Undermined by Flawed Electoral Rolls

The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) has raised serious concerns, alleging that the fundamental 'right to vote' is being systematically undermined across the state due to widespread discrepancies and politically motivated actions affecting electoral rolls. Top leaders from the party have squarely accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of failing in its constitutional duty to ensure free and fair elections, particularly pointing fingers at the state election machinery.

Ajay Rai, the President of the UPCC, launched a scathing attack on the process, claiming that the names of countless genuine voters have been arbitrarily deleted from electoral rolls, while a significant number have been shifted to different polling booths without their knowledge or consent.

This, he asserts, is part of a deliberate strategy to disenfranchise specific communities and castes perceived as opposition voters, thus manipulating election outcomes.

Rai emphasized that these aren't isolated incidents but a pattern emerging from various constituencies. He specifically highlighted instances where names of voters predominantly belonging to certain communities or castes were systematically removed.

Furthermore, he noted the troubling trend of voters' names being transferred to polling booths that are geographically distant from their residences, creating logistical barriers that discourage participation.

Adding to the allegations, Rai also pointed out the apparent lack of a robust verification process by election officials.

He claimed that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were either non-existent or showed little interest in conducting diligent field surveys. This negligence, according to the UPCC chief, has led to a situation where the electoral rolls are riddled with errors, making them unreliable and prone to manipulation.

The Congress leader didn't shy away from directly implicating the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suggesting their involvement in these alleged manipulations.

He called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the matter, demanding that the ECI take decisive action against any officials found complicit in these electoral malpractices. The party has urged the ECI to ensure that electoral rolls are meticulously updated, accurate, and truly reflect the eligible voting population before the upcoming elections.

The UPCC has also called for greater public awareness campaigns to educate voters about their rights and the process of checking their names on the electoral rolls.

They stressed the importance of a transparent and accessible system for voters to register, verify, and correct their details, asserting that a compromised electoral roll fundamentally threatens the democratic process itself.