NEW DELHI — A serious controversy has erupted in Bhopal and several districts of Madhya Pradesh, with Muslim voters accusing political workers of misusing Election Commission Form-7 to remove their names from the electoral rolls.
The allegations led to official probe, heated political exchanges, and growing concerns among minority voters ahead of the upcoming elections.
In Bhopal district alone, more than 9,000 objections have been filed through Form-7, which is used to request the deletion of names from the voter list. District officials have noted that many of these objections follow a similar pattern and appear to have been filed using incorrect names and mobile numbers. Several voters have told authorities they never filed any request and do not recognize the individuals who filed objections against their names.
District officials have confirmed that a thorough verification process is underway. “Every objection will be checked individually. No name will be deleted without proper notice, verification, and a hearing,” said a senior official in the Bhopal administration. “If any wrongdoing is found, strict action will be taken.”
The issue is not confined to the state capital. In Singrauli district, Muslim voters from Sahuar Panchayat in Deosar tehsil submitted a written complaint to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. They alleged that BJP booth-level agents visited their homes, asking them to place thumb impressions on forms, claiming it was for SIR, bank KYC updates, or housing scheme benefits. According to the complainants, these forms later turned out to be Form-7 applications seeking deletion of their names from the voter rolls.
A local resident said, “We were told this was for documents and welfare work. No one told us our voting rights were at risk. We feel deceived.”
Similar complaints have emerged in Bhind district, where Muslim voters reported that objections had been filed against their names by individuals they did not know. In many instances, the same name appeared repeatedly as the complainant. One such person, Abhishek, said he was shocked to see his name linked to hundreds of objections.
“I have not filed a single complaint against any voter,” he said. “This matter should be properly investigated, and those responsible should be punished.”
The Congress party has strongly raised the issue, with party leader Amit Sharma visiting the collector’s office alongside affected voters. “This is a clear attempt to cut Muslim votes through fraud,” Sharma alleged. “One person alone has filed more than 100 objections. This cannot be a coincidence.”
The BJP has rejected the allegations. Party MLA Rameshwar Sharma asserted that the administration was following the law. “No Muslim voter’s name will be removed unfairly,” he said. “But if any illegal foreigner is living here, their name cannot be added by anyone.”
Election officials have emphasized that the law includes safeguards. Notices must be served, voters must be heard, and proof must be provided before any deletions can be made. An official involved in the verification process stated, “People should not panic. The system has checks in place. We are alert to any misuse.”
Civil society members and rights activists have expressed concern, warning of a troubling pattern. “The right to vote is fundamental,” said a Bhopal-based activist. “Targeting a specific community creates fear and mistrust. Transparency is essential.”
As the verification process continues across districts, Muslim voters are demanding clear answers and accountability. Many have vowed not to stay silent. “Our vote is our voice,” a voter in Bhopal said. “We will protect it.”
