Unprecedented voter registration spike sparks political controversy
New Delhi: The release of Delhi’s final electoral roll on January 6, ahead of the Assembly elections, has sparked a wave of attention and scrutiny. Since December 16, 2024, over 5.1 lakh new voter registration applications have been received. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) termed this spike “unprecedented” and noted that it occurred more than 20 days after the November 28 deadline for claims and objections to the draft roll. “This trend is unexpected and requires closer examination,” the statement emphasized. Such figures have naturally drawn both public and political interest, with the electoral roll now comprising 1.55 crore voters—an increase of 1,67,329 from the draft roll.
The process involved the addition of 3,08,942 names and the deletion of 1,41,613. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Rajiv Kumar, underscored the transparency of the process, emphasizing that political parties were engaged at every step. “We ensured inclusivity and thorough scrutiny to uphold the integrity of the voter list,” he stated during a briefing on the roll’s finalisation. This announcement comes in the wake of an October draft roll and highlights a surprising surge in voter registrations.
As Delhi prepares for a high-stakes electoral contest between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), voter list changes have become a contentious issue. Allegations of irregularities have been raised, with the AAP asserting that deletions and additions in key constituencies could skew results. A senior AAP leader highlighted specific concerns: “In Shahdara, for instance, 11,000 votes were slated for deletion based on applications submitted by a local BJP leader. When we verified a sample, 90 per cent were AAP voters, and 75-80 per cent still resided in the area.”
Meanwhile, questions surround the surge in voter registration applications. Observers link this to welfare programs announced by the AAP, including cash transfers for women and free healthcare for seniors which involved volunteers collecting voter ID details during registration drives. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also alleged manipulation by BJP MPs. “Fake voter registrations are being orchestrated in constituencies like New Delhi. We must monitor this closely,” he warned via social media.
The AAP has compiled extensive documentation—spanning over 3,000 pages—to substantiate these claims. Simultaneously, the BJP has accused the AAP of relying on illegitimate votes from migrants.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva accused AAP of relying on illegal voters, while experts called for transparency from the Election Commission. The Association for Democratic Reforms highlighted the need for the EC to address voter list tampering allegations. With the registration deadline set for January 17, scrutiny over these applications is expected to increase as the election nears.
