Mangaluru: The Congress has intensified its district-level ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ campaign in Mangaluru, with All India Congress Committee (AICC) working committee member Kamaleshwar Patel alleging irregularities in electoral rolls, including duplicate voter entries, unauthentic addresses and deletion of eligible voters’ names.
Addressing reporters on Sunday, October 25, Patel said the campaign aimed to safeguard citizens’ constitutional rights and protect the integrity of the electoral process. He alleged that discrepancies in voter lists raised concerns about the accuracy of electoral rolls and the ability of eligible citizens to exercise their democratic rights.
The campaign, which is being conducted across the country, seeks to draw public attention to alleged irregularities in voter registration and electoral processes. Congress leaders in Dakshina Kannada said party workers were organising awareness programmes to explain the issues raised by the party and encourage citizens to remain vigilant about their voter registration details.
Congress alleges duplicate entries in Karnataka voter rolls
Citing an analysis of voter entries in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly constituency, Patel alleged that the exercise had identified 11,956 duplicate names, 40,009 unauthentic addresses and 10,452 registrations sharing a single address.
He referred to these figures as examples of the alleged discrepancies that the party wants addressed through its nationwide campaign. However, the figures and allegations cited by the Congress were not independently verified in the information provided.
The issue of electoral-roll accuracy has implications for the administration of elections, as voter lists determine who is eligible to cast a ballot at a particular polling station. Duplicate entries, incorrect addresses and the omission of eligible voters are among the concerns that can arise during the preparation and revision of electoral rolls.
Patel said the campaign was intended to raise awareness about such issues and press for greater accountability in the electoral process. The Congress has been seeking attention to what it describes as irregularities in voter registration and the handling of electoral rolls.
The party’s campaign also places emphasis on the need for citizens to verify their voter details and raise objections through the prescribed procedures if they identify discrepancies.
Patel questions voter additions in Maharashtra
Patel also alleged discrepancies in electoral rolls in Maharashtra, Haryana and West Bengal, extending the party’s concerns beyond Karnataka.
Referring to Maharashtra, he claimed that the state had recorded an addition of 40 lakh voters within five months between the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. He questioned the figures in relation to projected population growth and called for greater clarity regarding the changes in the state’s electoral rolls.
The allegation formed part of the Congress’s broader argument that changes in voter numbers and the preparation of electoral lists require scrutiny.
However, an increase in registered voters between two elections does not, by itself, establish electoral malpractice. Such changes need to be assessed against official electoral-roll data, revisions, new registrations, deletions and other relevant factors.
The claims made by Patel would therefore require examination against the Election Commission of India’s official records and explanations to establish the reasons for the reported changes.
The Congress has said that the campaign is intended to bring these questions into public discussion and seek accountability from the authorities responsible for administering elections.
Election Commission comes under criticism
Patel criticised the Union government and the Election Commission of India over the allegations raised by the party. He also questioned the conduct of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raised concerns about the authorities’ response to objections reportedly expressed by other election commissioners.
The remarks reflect the Congress’s criticism of the functioning of the country’s electoral administration and its demand for greater transparency in addressing concerns about voter registration and electoral procedures.
The Election Commission is responsible for the preparation and revision of electoral rolls, subject to the applicable constitutional and statutory framework. Electoral-roll revisions provide mechanisms through which eligible citizens can seek inclusion, request corrections and raise objections to entries.
The allegations raised during the Mangaluru press conference were statements made by Congress representatives. The information provided for this report did not include a response from the Election Commission or the Union government to the specific claims.
The campaign is expected to continue focusing on these issues through public meetings and awareness activities in different parts of the country.
District Congress leaders call for voter awareness
MLC Manjunath Bhandary said the campaign was necessary to protect democratic rights and ensure that every eligible voter could exercise their franchise.
He emphasised the importance of safeguarding the right to vote, which is central to citizens’ participation in the electoral process. Congress leaders said awareness among voters was essential to ensure that errors in electoral rolls could be identified and brought to the attention of the appropriate authorities.
Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee president Padmaraj R Poojary said party workers were conducting awareness programmes across the district to highlight the alleged irregularities.
The programmes are intended to familiarise citizens with the issues raised by the party and encourage them to check their registration details. The district-level campaign also seeks to mobilise party workers and supporters around the wider demand for transparency in electoral administration.
The Congress’s activities in Mangaluru form part of its nationwide effort to take the campaign beyond major political centres and engage voters at the district level.
Nationwide campaign to continue until November 26
The ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ campaign was launched by the All India Congress Committee under the leadership of party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.
According to the details announced by the party, the nationwide campaign began on October 10 and will continue until November 26, which is observed as Constitution Day in India.
Major rallies are scheduled to be held in New Delhi on November 1 and around Constitution Day on November 26. The events are expected to serve as focal points for the party’s campaign against what it alleges are irregularities in the electoral process.
The Congress has positioned the campaign around the protection of voting rights, electoral transparency and accountability in the preparation of voter lists. Its leaders have called for greater scrutiny of electoral data and responses to complaints concerning voter registration.
In Dakshina Kannada, the campaign will continue through district-level awareness programmes, with local leaders seeking to draw attention to the concerns raised by the party.
The allegations made by Congress leaders remain subject to verification against official records and responses from the relevant authorities. The accuracy of electoral rolls and the availability of established procedures for correcting errors remain important aspects of ensuring that eligible citizens can participate in elections.