BJP trying to remove voters' names from electoral roll: Kejri

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of attempting to remove voters' names from the electoral roll in a bid to influence the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

In a passionate appeal to the people of Purvanchal, Kejriwal urged them not to share their voter ID cards with BJP members, claiming that doing so could lead to their names being deleted from the electoral list.

“I want to tell the people of Purvanchal that we won't let anyone's name get cut. We respect you, and we will give you a respectful life,” Kejriwal said.

"If the BJP people come to your house, don't tell them your name, and don't show them your voter ID card. They might be asking for details to get your name deleted from the electoral roll,” he said.

Kejriwal’s comments came after he previously alleged that the BJP had filed applications to delete over 11,000 names from the electoral roll in the Shahdara Assembly constituency.

"The BJP has filed an application to delete the names of 11,018 voters in Shahdara. When we cross-checked the list of 500 names, 75 per cent of them were still living in the area. Their names could be removed from the roll,” Kejriwal claimed.

The AAP leader further claimed that the Shahdara seat, which AAP won by a margin of 5,000 votes in the 2020 elections, was now facing a significant loss of voters. "Most of these voters are AAP supporters," he added.

“If six per cent of the votes are cut from a single constituency, what is the point of holding elections?” he questioned.

BJP president JP Nadda dismissed the claims, claiming that the applications were aimed at identifying potential illegal voters, including “Rohingyas, Bangladeshis and infiltrators”.

Nadda said the party wanted to ensure that the AAP-led government did not come to power with the help of illegal votes.

“The applications were moved to verify the presence of illegal immigrants on the voter list and not to target any community," Nadda said, referring to the BJP's previous allegations to the Election Commission about the registration of illegal immigrants as voters in Delhi under AAP's watch.

Kejriwal quickly hit back at Nadda’s remarks, demanding an apology from him. “JP Nadda should apologise to the people of Purvanchal. His comments will prove costly for the BJP in the Delhi elections," Kejriwal said.

Kejri trying to position himself as champion of Purvanchalis: BJP

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said Kejriwal was trying to present himself as a supporter of Purvanchal residents, but they have not forgotten his controversial remarks of September 30, 2019, when he said “Biharis come to Delhi with a 500-rupee ticket, get 5 lakh worth of free treatment, and leave”. “Kejriwal repeatedly claimed that Delhi government hospitals and schools near the border of other states were under pressure from outsiders. He is now trying to position himself as a champion of Purvanchalis,” said Sachdeva.