Delhi BJP chief slams Kejriwal for doubting draft electoral roll released after SIR

New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra said on Monday that Arvind Kejriwal’s criticism of the Election Commission of India after the SIR process resulted in nearly 47 lakh fewer names in the city’s electoral rolls is a reflection of his anarchic politics.

Malhotra said the former chief minister and national convenor of Aam Aadmi Party is an anarchic politician who specialises in spreading confusion and making false statements.

Kejriwal’s statement and his criticism of the Election Commission after the SIR process resulted in nearly 47 lakh fewer names/votes in Delhi’s electoral rolls are a clear reflection of his anarchic politics.

The Delhi BJP President said that, like across the country, the Election Commission conducted the SIR exercise in Delhi by following a completely transparent process and giving sufficient time to voters. Every voter was given the opportunity to submit the form either through the BLO or directly online.

BLA representatives of all political parties in Delhi were also associated with the SIR exercise at the booth level. However, despite the lengthy process continuing for nearly four months, the AAP never raised any objection, he said.

Now that the draft electoral roll has been released, Kejriwal has once again resorted to the politics of confusion, he said.

The objective of the SIR process is to ensure that every adult citizen of the country is registered as a voter at only one place in the country, he said.

Malhotra said that every genuine and eligible voter in Delhi who submitted the form online or through the BLO and provided the required documents has been registered in the electoral roll.

Kejriwal’s problem is that many of his supporters who were registered as voters at two or three places have been removed from the electoral roll issued after the SIR, he said.

If Kejriwal believes that any genuine and eligible voter has been left out despite submitting the form, he should present such cases before the Election Commission, said Malhotra.

The Delhi BJP chief said that if any eligible voter finds that his or her name is not included in the draft electoral roll issued after the SIR, the person can apply afresh for voter registration after September 1 by providing proof of being a valid voter in Delhi.

Malhotra said that Kejriwal would do better to focus on saving his political existence rather than levelling allegations against the Election Commission and various constitutional institutions, because after losing the Punjab and other state elections in 2027, the AAP is set to lose its status as a national party.

–IANS

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