Kirit Somaiya flags discrepancies in Mumbai electoral roll data, seeks review of SIR figures

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 listSomaiya 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 correctionsSomaiya questions form distribution and untraceable voter figuresSomaiya highlighted what he described as contradictions between the reported rate of form distribution and the number of voters classified as untraceable across Mumbais electoral districtsState election officials declared a distribution rate of over 99 per cent across Maharashtra Specifically the Mumbai City Collectorate reported 9999 per cent form distribution while the Mumbai Suburban Collectorate reported 9996 per cent Simultaneously data from the Collectorates District Election officials and the Mumbai Municipal Commissioners office reveals that 1173 per cent of voters in Mumbai Suburban and 972 per cent in Mumbai City District remain untraceable Somaiya questioned how near100 per cent distribution could occur when around 12 per cent of addresses or voters cannot be traced said Somaiya in his letterHe urged the Chief Electoral Officer to examine the figures and address what he described as discrepancies in the electoral dataThe former MP also raised questions about differences in the number of voters deleted from electoral rolls on account of death across constituenciesVariations in deathrelated deletions flaggedAccording to Somaiyas letter the proportion of electoral roll deletions attributed to deaths varied significantly among constituencies in MumbaiThe figures cited were 291 per cent in Mankhurd 26 per cent in Anushakti Nagar 772 per cent in Mahim 671 per cent in Byculla and 626 per cent in ShivadiSomaiyas letter comes days after Chockalingam shared updated figures related to the SIR exercise across MaharashtraThe 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 processOver 18 crore voters listed as uncollectableAcross Maharashtra details of more than 18 crore voters accounting for about 1846 per cent of the electorate remained categorised as uncollectable according to the updated dataMumbai accounts for a substantial share of these entries Nearly 308 lakh voters or approximately 296 per cent of the electorate across Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts were listed in the categoryHigher proportions of uncollectable entries were reported in constituencies undergoing largescale redevelopment or those with significant migrant populations These included Sion Koliwada MankhurdShivaji Nagar Worli Malabar Hill and MumbadeviThe concentration of such entries in parts of Mumbai has drawn attention because the citys population is highly mobile with residents frequently changing addresses due to redevelopment employment migration and other factorsElection officials explain uncollectable categoryThe Chief Electoral Officer has clarified that the uncollectable category primarily covers electors falling under the ASDD classification Absent Shifted Dead or DuplicateAccording 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 saidThe 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 rollsEligible voters can submit forms for inclusionThe 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 rollWhile 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 includedThe clarification is significant as the SIR exercise is intended to verify electoral records and identify entries that require further scrutinySomaiya however has sought an examination of the figures released by different authorities particularly the apparent gap between nearcomplete form distribution rates and the proportion of voters whose details remain untraceable