17 August,2026 11:32 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Kirit Somaiya. File Pic
Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya has alleged discrepancies in electoral data released by election authorities in Mumbai, questioning the reported figures for voter form distribution, untraceable electors and deletions from electoral rolls due to deaths during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters' list.
Somaiya raised the concerns in a letter dated August 16 addressed to Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S. Chockalingam. He uploaded the letter on X on Monday and sought an immediate review of the figures and necessary corrections.
Somaiya highlighted what he described as contradictions between the reported rate of form distribution and the number of voters classified as untraceable across Mumbai's electoral districts.
"State election officials declared a distribution rate of over 99 per cent across Maharashtra. Specifically, the Mumbai City Collectorate reported 99.99 per cent form distribution, while the Mumbai Suburban Collectorate reported 99.96 per cent. Simultaneously, data from the Collectorates, District Election officials, and the Mumbai Municipal Commissioner's office reveals that 11.73 per cent of voters in Mumbai Suburban and 9.72 per cent in Mumbai City District remain untraceable. Somaiya questioned how near-100 per cent distribution could occur when around 12 per cent of addresses or voters cannot be traced," said Somaiya in his letter.
He urged the Chief Electoral Officer to examine the figures and address what he described as discrepancies in the electoral data.
The former MP also raised questions about differences in the number of voters deleted from electoral rolls on account of death across constituencies.
According to Somaiya's letter, the proportion of electoral roll deletions attributed to deaths varied significantly among constituencies in Mumbai.
The figures cited were 2.91 per cent in Mankhurd, 2.6 per cent in Anushakti Nagar, 7.72 per cent in Mahim, 6.71 per cent in Byculla and 6.26 per cent in Shivadi.
Somaiya's letter comes days after Chockalingam shared updated figures related to the SIR exercise across Maharashtra.
The differences highlighted by Somaiya are part of a broader exercise to verify electoral records and identify voters whose details could not be collected during the household enumeration process.
Across Maharashtra, details of more than 1.8 crore voters, accounting for about 18.46 per cent of the electorate, remained categorised as "uncollectable", according to the updated data.
Mumbai accounts for a substantial share of these entries. Nearly 30.8 lakh voters, or approximately 29.6 per cent of the electorate across Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts, were listed in the category.
Higher proportions of uncollectable entries were reported in constituencies undergoing large-scale redevelopment or those with significant migrant populations. These included Sion Koliwada, Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar, Worli, Malabar Hill and Mumbadevi.
The concentration of such entries in parts of Mumbai has drawn attention because the city's population is highly mobile, with residents frequently changing addresses due to redevelopment, employment, migration and other factors.
The Chief Electoral Officer has clarified that the "uncollectable" category primarily covers electors falling under the ASDD classification -- Absent, Shifted, Dead or Duplicate.
According to the CEO, a higher proportion of such entries in urban centres such as Mumbai and neighbouring Thane is not unusual when compared with broader national trends. Frequent changes of address, migration and daily commuting patterns contribute to difficulties in verifying voters during household enumeration, the official said.
The clarification also indicates that being classified as uncollectable during the enumeration process does not automatically mean that an eligible voter will be permanently removed from the electoral rolls.
The Chief Electoral Officer said voters whose details could not be collected during the exercise would not be without an opportunity to have their names updated or included in the electoral roll.
While untraced entries will not appear on the initial draft electoral list, eligible electors and Booth Level Agents have been encouraged to submit the required forms to ensure that legitimate voters are properly updated or included.
The clarification is significant as the SIR exercise is intended to verify electoral records and identify entries that require further scrutiny.
Somaiya, however, has sought an examination of the figures released by different authorities, particularly the apparent gap between near-complete form distribution rates and the proportion of voters whose details remain untraceable.
