BJP BLA Files Bulk Form-7 Applications Seeking Voter Deletions
Congress alleged that 30 pre-printed Form-7 applications were submitted in Musheerabad to seek deletion of votes from a family, including a Congress BLA.
BJP booth-level agent S. Balachander allegedly submitted Form-7 in bulk to initiate the deletion process for 30 votes belonging to a family, including Congress Booth Level Agent Shafiuddin, in Musheerabad. Balachander is reportedly registered as Balu amongst registered BJP BLAs for polling station number 210.
The move triggered a political row, as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has been accusing the BJP of misusing Form 7 to disenfranchise voters across the country. Instead of applicants filling out the forms individually, 30 Form 7s were ‘pre-printed’ and prepared in advance, making the matter serious.
Reacting to the development, the Congress demanded a forensic examination of the pre-printed forms, including their printing, common formatting, handwriting, signature patterns, dates and other similarities, to determine if they were prepared from a common source.
“The circumstances raise serious questions regarding the source from which these forms were obtained. Who prepared them? Who supplied the information they contain? Were the applications submitted with the knowledge and consent of the persons shown as applicants?” asked P. Rajesh Kumar, the chairman of the Congress Election Commission Coordination Committee.
As per the Election Commission, Form-7 is the prescribed form for objecting to a voter's inclusion or seeking deletion of an existing voter entry. “The ECI guidelines specifically state that the applicant must provide the relevant particulars and that the onus of proof to substantiate the reason given for objection or removal lies with the applicant. The declaration in Form-7 also specifically warns that knowingly making a false statement or declaration is punishable under section 31 of the Representation of the People Act.1950,” the leader explained.
In the complaint lodged with the Chief Electoral Officer S Sudharshan Reddy on Thursday, the Congress has demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the episode.
Considering the ‘grave nature’ of the instance, the Congress urged the CEO to obtain and preserve the original Form-7 applications, including all pages, signatures, handwriting, dates, mobile numbers, EPIC details, declarations and supporting documents submitted with them.
The state ruling party also urged the CEO to initiate a wider investigation in the Musheerabad Assembly constituency and across Telangana to determine whether similar pre-printed Form-7 applications have been submitted against Congress leaders, BLAs, their family members and other genuine voters.
