2 hrs ago
Abhishek Banerjee Flags ‘30 Lakh Names’ Voter Roll Deletion Claim
Abhishek Banerjee shared old WhatsApp screenshots about changes to voter lists.
He said they raised questions about a possible plan to remove 30 lakh names.
The screenshot has not been independently proven to be genuine or understood in full.
The Election Commission told the Supreme Court that 27.16 lakh voters were removed during the review.
It also said more than 22 lakh people later appealed to be added back.
Some opposition leaders have accused the commission of unfairly taking away voting rights.
Mamata Banerjee called for Gyanesh Kumar to be arrested and for old voter lists to return.
The Election Commission said its decisions were made unanimously.
The disagreement is now being debated by political parties, election officials and the courts.
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee shared April WhatsApp screenshots that he said suggested a plan to delete 30 lakh names from electoral rolls.
The screenshot’s claim, authenticity and context have not been independently established or officially verified.
The Election Commission told the Supreme Court that 27.16 lakh voters were removed during the roll revision, while more than 22 lakh later appealed for reinstatement.
The Indian Express reported that election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times to roll-revision decisions and instructions over 10 months.
The Election Commission said SIR-related decisions were unanimous, while opposition leaders demanded action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Who
- Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata Banerjee, the Election Commission, and opposition parties are central to the dispute.
- What
- Banerjee alleged that April WhatsApp screenshots pointed to a plan to delete 30 lakh names from electoral rolls.
- Where
- The dispute concerns electoral rolls in India and includes proceedings before the Supreme Court.
- When
- Banerjee shared the screenshots on Thursday; the screenshots were from April, and the controversy followed the Election Commission’s special intensive revision.
- Why
- Opposition leaders are challenging voter deletions and demanding accountability, while the Election Commission says the revision decisions were unanimous.
Opposition Allegations
Election Commission Response
Voter-list deletions
Opposition Allegations
Abhishek Banerjee said the screenshots raised questions about an alleged conspiracy to remove 30 lakh names, while Mamata Banerjee said voters’ rights were being forcibly taken away.
Election Commission Response
The Election Commission cited its revision figures and rejected suggestions that the process reflected an institutional split.
Internal disagreements
Opposition Allegations
The Indian Express reported that Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times to decisions and instructions linked to the revision.
Election Commission Response
The Election Commission said SIR-related decisions were taken unanimously and that internal observations and differences were normal institutional deliberations.
Action against Gyanesh Kumar
Opposition Allegations
Mamata Banerjee demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s arrest and criminal prosecution, and opposition parties sought his removal; the Cockroach Janta Party issued a 48-hour resignation ultimatum.
Election Commission Response
The Election Commission has defended the revision process and has not accepted the opposition’s allegations as established facts.
Key facts
- Alleged deletion plan
- Abhishek Banerjee claimed the screenshots raised questions about deleting 30 lakh names.
- Election Commission figure
- The commission told the Supreme Court that 27.16 lakh voters were removed during the revision.
- Appeals
- More than 22 lakh voters subsequently appealed for reinstatement.
- Reported objections
- The Indian Express reported at least 14 objections by two election commissioners over 10 months.
- Named officials
- Banerjee named Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Chief Justice of India as people who had questions to answer.
- Election Commission position
- The commission rejected suggestions of an internal split and said SIR-related decisions were unanimous.
- Mamata Banerjee’s demands
- She called for Gyanesh Kumar’s arrest and prosecution, restoration of old voter lists, and fresh polls in places where voters were allegedly prevented from voting.
Quotes
Abhishek Banerjee
Trinamool Congress member of Parliament who shared the screenshots and raised the allegation
“This screenshot from a WhatsApp group of observers goes back to April. It raises serious questions about an alleged conspiracy to delete 30 lakh names from the electoral rolls.”
telegraphindia.com
“My first demand is that he should be arrested and criminal proceedings should be initiated against him.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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