Congress says bulk Form 7 objections being processed in Uttarakhand
The Congress alleges that unverified bulk Form 7 objections to delete voters’ names are being processed during Uttarakhand’s special intensive revision, prompting a delegation to the Election Commission and a review by election officials. The party cites thousands of objections tied to a single indi
Key takeaways
- Congress alleges unverified bulk Form 7 submissions are being processed during Uttarakhand's claims and objections window.
- A delegation met the Chief Electoral Officer after submitting a memorandum to the Election Commission.
- There is a mandatory review trigger after more than five objections, according to ECI sources.
What Happened
The Congress asserted that the Election Commission is accepting and processing unverified bulk applications to delete voters’ names during the claims and objections period of Uttarakhand’s ongoing special intensive revision of the voter lists.
The party said it submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission in Delhi on August 20, 2026, and that a delegation met Uttarakhand’s Chief Electoral Officer B.V.R.C. Purushottam in Dehradun on August 21 to raise concerns. Form 7, used to object to a name or seek deletion for reasons like death, migration, or ineligibility, is the instrument involved. The Congress highlighted that some bulk submissions were made online and that several Form 7 objections appear to be filed by people not connected to the concerned Assembly Constituency.
The Election Commission and Uttarakhand authorities have stated they will review these allegations. Officials noted that while party booth-level agents can file up to 10 Form 7s per day (30 total), there is no explicit limit for individual objectors, though a person submitting more than five objections triggers a mandatory review by the Electoral Registration Officer to verify legitimacy. A specific instance cited by the Congress involved a single individual, Rajesh Tiwari, who allegedly filed about 6,410 objections in the Kichha Assembly constituency.
In Udham Singh Nagar district, the Congress said unannounced exercises were restarting to identify demographically or photo-similar entries and proposed deletions totaling 102,793 electors, without clear written guidelines or due notice. The draft rolls were published July 14, with the final list due September 15. The claims and objections period ran until August 13, and the disposal of notices is scheduled to occur until September 11.
Why It Matters
The allegations point to potential misuse of the Form 7 process during a critical revision phase, which could affect the accuracy of voter lists and the integrity of the electoral process if bulk submissions are not properly verified or heard. The use of a single individual generating thousands of objections raises questions about targeting and the effectiveness of checks against non-genuine submissions. Officials indicated there is a built-in mechanism for scrutiny when objection counts exceed five, but the efficacy of dual notice and hearings in practice remains a concern according to the Congress.
Background
The ongoing exercise, described as a special intensive revision (SIR) of Uttarakhand’s voter lists, includes a claims and objections window during which Form 7 objections can be filed. The draft electoral rolls were published on July 14, and the final list is planned for release on September 15. Prior instances of bulk Form 7 submissions have been reported in other states, with the Congress referencing Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Assam as examples.
Key Facts
- Congress says unverified bulk Form 7 applications are being processed during the SIR in Uttarakhand.
- The party submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission on August 20, 2026, and met the CEO on August 21 in Dehradun.
- Form 7 is used to object to a name or request deletion due to death, migration, or ineligibility.
- Booth-level agents can file up to 10 Form 7s per day (total 30), while there is no limit for individual objectors, though more than five objections trigger a mandatory ERO review.
- 262 individuals filed more than 10 Form 7 objections each, collectively creating thousands of objections.
- In Kichha Assembly constituency, one individual allegedly filed about 6,410 objections.
- Udham Singh Nagar district is cited as having 102,793 proposed deletions from unannounced exercises.
- Draft rolls published July 14; final list due September 15; claims/objections period open till August 13; disposal notices till September 11.
What Happens Next
Officials indicated they would examine the bulk Form 7 submissions and address concerns raised by the Congress. The ECI/EROs are expected to carry out mandatory reviews where required, and disposal of objections is slated to proceed through September 11, ahead of the final list release on September 15, 2026.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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