Bhubaneswar, Sep 2 (PTI) The opposition BJD on Wednesday urged the Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to ensure transparent and impartial verification of electoral records, alleging that Form-7 was being misused to target genuine minority voters during the ongoing SIR exercise.
Form-7 is used to file objections to the proposed inclusion or deletion of names from the existing electoral roll.
In a memorandum submitted to the Additional Chief Electoral Officer, the BJD State Minority Cell said it had received complaints from various parts of Odisha, alleging that Form-7 applications were being filed against genuine electors, particularly Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and other eligible citizens.
“We have urged the Chief Electoral Officer to take immediate and strict action regarding the alleged misuse of Form-7 to delete the names of genuine and eligible electors during the ongoing SIR,” the party said in a statement.
The BJD pointed out that the claims and objections period under SIR-2026 ended on August 19 and said any proposal for deletion being processed thereafter must strictly follow the prescribed legal procedure.
“No genuine elector should be deleted,” the party said, stressing that a notice must be served on the elector concerned and an opportunity provided to present their case before any name is removed from the electoral roll.
The party also urged the CEO to direct District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), AEROs and other officials to exercise greater caution, particularly in areas with a substantial minority population.
It demanded special scrutiny of Form-7 applications and deletion proposals being processed after August 19.
The BJD also sought constituency-wise and booth-wise verification of Form-7 applications in areas with a substantial minority population.
“Wherever it is established that the name of a genuine elector has been wrongly deleted, immediate corrective action should be taken,” the party said. PTI AAM AAM SOM
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