A political row has erupted in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia district after people allegedly linked to the BJP and RSS were included as assistants to booth-level officers during the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The district administration has now said the names were “added by mistake” and are being removed.
State Congress chief Jitu Patwari shared the official list on social media. He alleged that at least four individuals appointed as assistants to BLOs were BJP members or office-bearers.
Patwari wrote on X, “After the Election Commission, now the administration too is seen dancing like an open puppet of the government and the organisation. The official order issued by the Datia Collector, appointing several BJP office-bearers, including the former Mandal President, as BLO assistants in the name of SIR. It is the most absurd example of pressure from those in power.”
He added that the BJP was using the SIR exercise to further its agenda. “The BJP government calls SIR a 'constitutional process,' but the reality is that every constitutional system has been turned into a tool to implement the party’s agenda. This attempt to colour SIR in the BJP’s hue is an insult to democracy. The Congress will not let this BJP tactic succeed. We are vigilant to protect the rights of every voter,” he said.
As part of the ongoing SIR, BLOs are responsible for verifying voter details, and each BLO has been assigned two to four assistants.
Datia collector Swapnil Wankhade told PTI that the controversial names had been included “by mistake” by the sub-divisional magistrate.
He said, “I did not issue the order. It was issued by the SDM of the Datia assembly. He received the list from officials, and three names were included incorrectly. These persons are being removed from the list. Different departments had sent names for assistants, and three were added by mistake. There was no mala fide intention. The official [SDM] had no such intention, but he made a mistake. We have asked him to explain how it happened.”
Wankhade said he has issued a notice to the SDM, who has also sent notices to the officials involved.
The Election Commission has set December 4 as the deadline for completing the statewide SIR of electoral rolls.