10/09/2026
94,000 VOTERS VANISH IN MUMBADEVI AFTER SIR
UBT Sena Leader Sharif Deshmukh Seeks SIT Probe Into mumbadevi constituency all 233 Booths
MUMBAI:Alleged negligence by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Mumbadevi Assembly Constituency has raised serious questions over voter verification despite clear directives from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Shiv Sena (UBT) Mumbadevi Vidhan Sabha Samanwayak Sharif Deshmukh alleged that the BLO of mumbadevi constituency polling Booths is 233 failed to conduct door-to-door verification as mandated by the ECI. As per EC guidelines, BLOs must visit houses and buildings, personally contact voters, verify electoral rolls, register eligible voters and complete correction procedures.
However, local residents have alleged that instead of conducting field visits, the concerned BLO remained seated at one place and waited for voters to approach him. Deshmukh said if the allegation is true, it is a serious violation of EC directives and warrants a thorough inquiry.
He also flagged a sharp decline in voter numbers after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Before SIR, Mumbadevi constituency had total 233 polling booths and around 2.43 lakh voters. After SIR, the number has reportedly dropped to 229 booths and around 1.49 lakh voters a reduction of nearly 94,000 voters.
Deshmukh questioned on what criteria such a large number of names were deleted and whether names of eligible voters were inadvertently removed from the rolls.
Demanding intervention at the highest level, Deshmukh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising retired Supreme Court judges to probe the matter.
He put forth five key demands a thorough inquiry into the functioning of the BLO in all mumbadevi constituency 233 booths and examination of records to verify whether EC instructions on field visits were followed; an impartial and transparent verification into the sharp decline in voter numbers post-SIR; immediate opportunity for restoration if eligible voters' names were wrongly deleted; and strict action as per rules against officers found guilty of negligence.
Deshmukh said the electoral roll is not merely a list on paper but is directly linked to the democratic rights of every citizen. Not a single eligible voter should be deprived of voting rights due to administrative negligence, he said, demanding that the Election Commission take serious cognizance and fix accountability.
