The district election officer has also been asked to submit a detailed report on the responsibilities of the assistant electoral registration officers concerned.
The CEO has ordered a detailed examination of electoral rolls across all Assembly segments in Pilibhit district, with a report due within two days. District election officers across Uttar Pradesh have been instructed to carry out similar checks and submit reports within the same period.
Congress questions scope of action
Shrinate said the Congress had exposed what it described as a conspiracy to steal votes in Pilibhit Sadar at a press conference in Lucknow on 20 October. She said the Election Commission of India (ECI) had acted after the party raised the allegations, but argued that action against a few junior officials was insufficient.
‘This is not enough — this is a much bigger game being played on a widespread scale,’ she said in a post on X, demanding that the SIR exercise be scrapped.
The Congress had earlier alleged large-scale manipulation of the Pilibhit Sadar electoral roll. According to the party, 13,150 voters’ names had been changed despite their EPIC and serial numbers remaining unchanged; 804 voters had been deleted despite continuing to live in the constituency; and 2,600 names had been added for people who, the party claimed, did not reside in the area.
The CEO’s office has ordered further scrutiny of electoral rolls across Uttar Pradesh. The findings of those inquiries, along with the investigation into the officials concerned, will be important in determining the extent of the discrepancies and whether responsibility extends beyond those initially named for action.
About the Author
