By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: A joint press conference of senior Congress leaders was held on Thursday at the Pradesh Congress Office, Indira Bhavan, to highlight widespread irregularities in the ongoing voter list revision process. The leaders alleged that eligible voters were being deliberately removed or shifted in a manner that undermines the integrity of the electoral system.
The press briefing was addressed by Congress in-charge for Madhya Pradesh Harish Choudhary, MPCC President Jitu Patwari, former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, former minister Sajjan Singh Verma, Media Department Chair Mukesh Nayak, Organisation General Secretary Dr Sanjay Kamle, Training Department in-charge Mahendra Joshi, voter list revision in-charge Lalit Sen, senior leader J.P. Dhanopia, and state spokespersons Bhupendra Gupta and Jitendra Mishra.
Harish Choudhary’s Allegations
Harish Choudhary accused the Election Commission of failing in its constitutional duties. He claimed that large numbers of eligible voters’ names had either gone missing or had been incorrectly transferred, adding that the Commission was operating under pressure from the ruling BJP.
He announced a protest in Delhi on 14 December over issues related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and asserted that Congress would “protect every genuine voter whose name has been wrongfully removed or shifted.”
Jitu Patwari Announces ‘Vote Protector Campaign’
MPCC President Jitu Patwari declared that, in response to growing complaints about the deletion of Congress-leaning voters’ names, the party would launch a “Vote Protector Campaign”.
He announced the appointment of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) at every booth, who will act as “Vote Protectors” by monitoring the newly released voter list from 4 December onwards. These BLAs will check entries at every ward and booth, monitor claims and objections, and ensure that no legitimate voter is excluded.
Patwari stated that Congress would take responsibility for adding names of all eligible voters who have been omitted, deliberately removed, or need to be registered for the first time.
Digvijaya Singh Raises Concerns Over Fraudulent Entries
Former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh alleged large-scale manipulation in voter lists and questioned the functioning of Booth Level Officers (BLOs). He cited the example of Narela, where a house with only four residents reportedly had 108 names registered—a case he described as “organised fraud”.
He demanded a high-level inquiry into the roles of BLOs, supervisors, and returning officers between 2023 and 2025, stressing that adding fake voters is “a serious offence against democracy”.
Sajjan Singh Verma Criticises SIR Process
Former minister Sajjan Singh Verma said that the Political Affairs Committee held a three-hour meeting earlier in the day, discussing organisational matters, training, the SIR process, and the Election Commission’s conduct.
He criticised the SIR for being carried out with poor preparation, resulting in major discrepancies. Verma highlighted serious errors such as the name of Gwalior Congress MLA Satish Sikawar being wrongly transferred to a neighbouring constituency, calling it an example of “gross negligence”.
Congress Reaffirms Stand
The MP Congress Committee reiterated its commitment to defending democratic rights, ensuring fair electoral practices, and resisting any manipulation of the voter list. The party asserted that irregularities would neither be tolerated nor ignored.
