BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has raised concerns about irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bandra East Assembly constituency in Maharashtra. He alleged that voter mapping of residents from the demolished Garib Nagar settlement in Mumbai was done illegally. Despite the settlement’s demolition by railway authorities with the help of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Police, voters from Garib Nagar were included and mapped.
In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S. Chockalingam, Somaiya highlighted that during the SIR process, 1,296 out of 2,412 voters from Garib Nagar were mapped, even though the settlement had been demolished. He expressed shock over the inclusion of these voters despite prior knowledge of the demolition. The BJP leader emphasized that the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were informed about the demolition, but the mapping process continued.
Somaiya criticized the local officials for not removing the names of voters associated with the demolished settlement. Instead, he claimed that the officials conducted mapping exercises and included the names of Garib Nagar voters. Seeking action, he urged the Election Commission of India to investigate the matter and take appropriate steps against those responsible for what he deemed as illegal mapping.
