Former Mayor Padmavati Lodges Complaint Over Mass Voter Deletions in Rajajinagar
Bangalore Mail Desk
Bengaluru: Former Mayor Padmavati has lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission, alleging large-scale voter deletions in the Rajajinagar Assembly constituency. She claims that thousands of legitimate voters have been arbitrarily removed from the electoral rolls, thereby stripping them of their fundamental right to vote.
According to Padmavati, a staggering 12,757 voter names have been deleted in the constituency so far. She argues that such mass removals are not accidental but rather a deliberate move, allegedly orchestrated during every voter list revision. “Certain sections of voters have been selectively targeted and removed without proper verification,” Padmavati said, accusing the local MLA of being behind this recurring practice.
Demand for a Fresh Revision
The former Mayor has urged the Election Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and carry out a fresh revision of the voter list. “This is not just a clerical error; it’s a serious denial of democratic rights,” she stressed, demanding immediate corrective measures to ensure that all eligible voters are reinstated before the upcoming elections.
A Pattern of Alleged Electoral Manipulation
This is not the first time such allegations have surfaced in Bengaluru. Over the past few years, various constituencies have reported complaints of large-scale voter deletions. Civil rights groups and opposition leaders have repeatedly accused political actors of exploiting the revision process to manipulate electoral rolls in their favor.
What Happens Next?
With Padmavati’s formal complaint now in the hands of the Election Commission, all eyes will be on how the poll body responds. If the claims are substantiated, the Commission may be forced to order a detailed inquiry and possibly restore the deleted names, ensuring a level playing field ahead of the elections.
For now, thousands of voters in Rajajinagar remain in limbo, anxiously waiting to see if their right to vote will be restored before the polls.
