14 July,2026 11:47 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Kirit Somaiya. File Pic
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has written to Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S. Chockalingam, alleging irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the Bandra East Assembly constituency. In his letter, Somaiya claimed that electoral officials illegally mapped voters from the demolished Garib Nagar settlement despite the area having been cleared by authorities weeks ago.
The BJP leader has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to investigate the matter and take action against officials allegedly responsible for the irregularities.
In his letter, titled "SIR Maharashtra illegal mapping of Garib Nagar voters", Somaiya raised concerns over the inclusion of voters from Garib Nagar, an unauthorised settlement on railway land in Mumbai that was recently demolished by railway authorities with the assistance of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Police.
He alleged that despite the demolition, electoral officials proceeded with the voter mapping exercise during the first phase of the SIR process.
According to Somaiya, the issue pertains to the voter mapping exercise carried out in the Bandra East Assembly constituency.
Somaiya alleged that block-level officials cleared the mapping of 1,296 voters out of a total of 2,412 voters associated with Garib Nagar, even though the settlement no longer existed.
In the letter, Somaiya stated, "We are shocked that the concerned block-level officials in the first round of SIR have cleared mapping of 1,296 voters out of 2,412 voters of Garib Nagar Bandra East."
The BJP leader further claimed that the demolition had already been brought to the attention of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) for Bandra East and the concerned Booth Level Officers (BLOs), but the information was allegedly ignored.
"It may be please noted that Garib Nagar unauthorised encroachment on railway property has been demolished few weeks back by the railway officials with the help of Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Mumbai Police," Somaiya said in the letter.
Questioning why the mapping exercise continued after the demolition, Somaiya alleged that electoral officials completed the verification despite knowing that no residents remained at the site.
"When anybody everybody including the BLO and the ERO knows that Garib Nagar is demolished nobody staying there then also in the first round of SIR they completed the mapping work."
He also alleged that instead of deleting the names of voters linked to the demolished settlement, officials organised camps and continued the voter mapping process.
"We had brought to the notice of block level officials, Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), that Garib Nagar settlement, which was illegal, unauthorised has been demolished few weeks back. Names of those voters should have been removed," he stated.
Seeking action, Somaiya urged the Election Commission of India to examine the alleged irregularities and initiate appropriate proceedings against the officials concerned.
"We request the Election Commission of India to take appropriate action against the officials," Somaiya wrote in the letter.
There has been no immediate response from the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer or the Election Commission of India regarding the allegations made by the BJP leader.
The allegations come as the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is being carried out across Maharashtra to verify and update voter records.
The exercise is intended to ensure the accuracy of the electoral roll ahead of future elections. Somaiya's claims are allegations made in his letter, and no official findings have yet been announced by the Election Commission regarding the matter.
