Full Breakdown
Allegations of Voter-List Irregularities in Pilibhit Sadar
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Allegations of Roll Changes
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) flagged extensive discrepancies in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) electoral roll for Pilibhit Sadar (constituency 127). Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate alleged that, after the draft SIR list was published in April, the names of 13,150 voters were altered between July and September while their Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers remained unchanged. She further claimed that 804 living voters were deleted, 2,600 non-residents were added, and that many of the altered entries involved Muslim men, suggesting manipulation through software. AICC Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam cited the constituency’s narrow 2022 victory margin of around 6,930 votes for BJP minister Sanjay Gangwar as a reason for scrutiny.
Official Investigation and Legal Action
Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa ordered an immediate probe by the District Election Officer (DEO) of Pilibhit. The CEO directed the removal of the Electoral Registration Officer and VRC Operator for Assembly Constituency 127 from voter-list duties and instructed legal action under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. All District Election Officers were told to review electoral rolls in their districts and submit reports within two days. The CEO’s office also sought a clear report on the responsibilities of the constituency’s Assistant Electoral Registration Officers.
Scope of Reported Discrepancies
Statewide, the final electoral roll published on April 10, 2026 listed 13.39 crore voters. During the revision exercise, more than 2.04 crore voters were removed and over 84 lakh were added, prompting a broader deduplication effort after social-media users flagged possible duplicate entries. In Pilibhit Sadar, the specific error identified was that searching certain EPIC numbers online displayed details belonging to other voters.
Political Context
Congress leaders framed the issue as a threat to democratic integrity, urging citizens to verify their details. “Protecting democracy is not the responsibility of any one political party. It is the responsibility of every citizen,” — Rajendra Pal Gautam The party announced plans to pursue legal remedies, seek Supreme Court intervention, and mobilise its organisational network to challenge the alleged irregularities.
Next Steps
The DEO of Pilibhit is tasked with completing a detailed review of all Assembly constituencies in the district and reporting findings within two days. The CEO’s office indicated that similar checks will be extended across Uttar Pradesh to determine whether comparable EPIC-number mismatches exist elsewhere.