ECI asks Sh Akhilesh Yadav to submit documentary proof to substantiate his

Allegation of mass deletion of around 20,000 voters from Yadav and Muslim
community from the Electoral Roll in GELA of Uttar Pradesh

20,000 voters not deleted even in one Legislative Assembly Constituency

Law doesn’t provide for Electoral Roll based on caste or religion

R P Act provides for penalties and criminal liabilities for undue interference including
false declaration knowingly and promoting enmity between classes

Election Commission of India has asked President Samajwadi Party Shri Akhilesh
Yadav to submit documentary proof to substantiate his allegation recently made at public fora
that ECI had deliberately deleted names of voters from Yadav and Muslim community
to the tune of 20,000 in almost all of the 403Assembly Constituency of Uttar Pradesh, at
the behest of Bharatiya Janata Party and its aides. Certain media reports had quoted Shri
Akhilesh Yadav desiring a probe to be conducted to reveal that names of many people were
deleted.

Law doesn’t provide for Electoral Roll based on caste or religion. ECI notes thatthe
Representation of People Act 1950 and the Representation of People Act 1951 inter-alia
envisage various provisions aimed at ensuring purity of electoral registration/revision/final
roll and provisions for penalties and criminal liabilities for undue interference including
false declaration knowingly and promoting enmity between classes. Since Shri Yadav’s
statement regarding alleged mass deletion of names, that too of particular group of voters
from Electoral Roll is extremely serious and has far reaching substantive and
perceptional implications on the integrity of elections and thereby on democracy, ECI
has asked Sh Yadav to submit documentary proof based on which he has made such a public
statement about mass deletions.
Taking due cognisance of statement reportedly made by Shri Yadav while addressing
the media recently and considering his stature as a seasoned politician who has long been
involved in electoral processes as the head of a State Recognised Political Party and an ex-
Chief Minister of the largest State of the Country, ECI has asked that Shri Yadav to
furnish details to the Commission by 10th November 2022, so that necessary action can
be taken. Shri Yadav has been asked to submit Assembly wise data of deletionsof such
magnitude, and therefore requested to provide proof for: -
(i) Assembly Constituency wise number and names of alleged wrongful deletions.

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 (ii) Supporting evidence/documentsof such electors whose names have
allegedlybeen deleted wrongfully.
(iii) Details of any specific complaint of deletions of voters of such magnitude
made by his party with either any of the DEO or CEO, UP during the process
of SSR or general elections in 2022 to Legislative assemblies ofUP .

It is pertinent to note that Commission has neither received anycomplaint of mass

deletions to the tune of 20,000 from any AC nor has any such issue been brought to the notice
of district/state level electoral authoritiesduring/after General Elections to Legislative
Assembly of Uttar Pradesh 2022 or during entire process of SSR (with 1.1.2022 as qualifying
date) from 1.11.2021 to 5.1.2022 and also during continuous updation, thereafter, till last date
of nomination in each phase(i.e.during 1month and12 days). Only one complaint regarding
deletion of a list of around 10,000 electors (from minority and scheduled caste) was made to
DEO by a candidate of Samajwadi Party from 103-Aliganj Assembly Constituency. On
enquiry by CEO Uttar Pradesh, the allegations were found to be baseless, unsubstantiated and
factually incorrect.
Given the legal provisions for preparation of Electoral Roll and safeguards against
wrongful deletions, the SOPs laid by the Commission leave no scope for mass deletion of the
names of bonafide electors from the Electoral Roll. Just to illustrate, a few safeguards inter
alia include:
I. During an election year, Suo-moto deletions are strictly prohibited.
II. Each and every deletion is made after following due procedure of law by giving
ample opportunity to the person concerned, as provided in Section 22 of
Representation of People Act 1950 read with Rule 21-A of Registration of
Electors Rules 1960.
III. Even after final publication of Electoral Rollin an election year, for ensuring the
purity and health of Electoral Roll in any Assembly constituency, ifdeletions are
required(by ERO) and quantum of such deletions are more than 0.1% of the
number of electors in the finally published rolls, the DEO is required to take the
approval of the CEO before allowing such deletions by the ERO.
IV. At each and every stage of revision of Electoral Roll, and continuous updation
thereafter, complete transparency is maintained by sharing copy of draft and
final Electoral Rolls, list of claims and objections and putting the same in public
domain.

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 V. Recognised political parties being the most important stakeholders, are provided
with copies of electoral rolls or lists of claims/ objections or list of additions/
deletions inter alia at every appropriate stage described below:
a. Draft Publication of Electoral Roll (Rule 11 of Registration of Electors
Rules 1960)
b. List of Claims and Objection as placed on website of CEO/DEOsand
respective ERO offices (Rule 16 of Registration of Electors Rules 1960)
c. Final Publication of Electoral Rolls (Rule 22 of Registration of Electors
Rules 1960)
d. Monthly publication of additions/deletions on CEO websites during
continuous updation
e. Marked copy of Electoral Roll for purpose of election with candidates set up
by a recognised Political Party.
VI. Sharing of data at each stage of revision of electoral rolls and at each level i.e.
DEOs at district level and CEO at State level was done with every recognised
political party including Samajwadi Party, being a State recognised party,
during General Elections to Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh, 2022.
VII. Law provides opportunity for making appeal against the decision of ERO, under
Section 24 of Representation of People Act 1950, for deleting the name of
person concerned.
VIII. As the Electoral Roll forms the basis for a free & fair election, it has always been
an endeavour to ensure the purity and health of Electoral Roll so that no eligible
person is left out at the same time no ineligible person is included.
IX. Electoral roll is discussed during all Standing Committee meetings with
recognised political parties or with candidates at State, District and
Constituency levels.
X. All necessary arrangements for dissemination of Electoral Roll data at every
appropriate stage, as provided in the Law and Commission’s extant
instructions, are made, so that incorrect entries or discrepancies, if any, may be
brought to the notice of electoral authorities for timely corrective/redressal
measures after following due procedure of law.

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