AAP accuses BJP of submitting bulk applications to delete names of over 22,000 voters
New Delhi, Dec 11: Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Wednesday alleged that the BJP was submitting bulk applications to election authorities for removal of voter names from the electoral rolls in seven assembly seats in Delhi as it feared defeat in the upcoming polls.
Addressing a press conference here with Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, Sisodia claimed, "When the BJP is unable to stop Arvind Kejriwal and defeat him in elections, the BJP is trying to win by other means."
He alleged that the BJP members and supporters submitted mass applications to delete the names of over 22,000 voters from the electoral rolls.
"This is a concerning issue which exposes how over 22,000 voters are being deleted -- a potential conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP. The fact that the Election Commission is considering these applications is even more dangerous.
"The BJP may have felt that they would lose in this constituency and don't have enough supporters there which is why they are engaging in this voter deletion strategy," the former deputy chief minister of Delhi said.
Responding to the accusations, the Delhi BJP said AAP is looking for excuses to cover up its defeat in the upcoming elections, and the campaign to get illegal voter names removed will continue.
Listing the names of the seven constituencies and providing details of the "fraudulent" applications received, Chadha said, "We found that people connected with the party have submitted the maximum number of applications for voter deletion.
"This raises the question: Why is it necessary to remove these names just two months before the elections? Who is behind this bulk deletion? There is a rule that one person cannot submit applications for deletion of more than 10 voters in a day," he added.
Applications were filed to delete 7,055 votes in Janakpuri, 3,861 in Karawal Nagar, 4,016 in Tughlakabad, 1,641 in Palam, 534 in Mustafabad, 637 in Hari Nagar, and 1,274 in Rajouri Garden, Chadha claimed.
The AAP MP claimed individuals who submitted these applications were either members of the BJP or its supporters.
Sharing details of the BJP functionaries, the AAP MP said, “When we conducted a preliminary investigation to identify these individuals, their association with the BJP became evident.
"For example, in Janakpuri, Mahinder Kumar Malik filed 194 applications, and another individual, Prince Garg, submitted 50 applications. Both are connected to the BJP, as seen in their membership details. Similarly, in Janakpuri, Hari Sharma’s case is identical, as he also has BJP links.”
Chadha added that in Mustafabad, Rajkumar, who filed 534 applications, can be seen in pictures with BJP leaders.
"These individuals are either directly or indirectly associated with the BJP. They may be working in BJP offices on payrolls, serving as their supporters, workers, or office bearers," he alleged.
The AAP leaders accused the BJP of targeting voters who are not aligned with their party and attempting to disenfranchise them through false claims.
They claimed these voters have been residing at their addresses for years and accused the BJP of attempting to prevent them from exercising their franchise.
A delegation of AAP led by Arvind Kejriwal met the Election Commission on Wednesday to raise the issue.
The BJP has been accusing AAP of facilitating the inclusion of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar, as voters during its tenure.
The issue of illegal immigrants has gained traction in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections due in February next year. AAP is eying a third consecutive term while the BJP aims to regain power in the capital after 25 years.
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Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
