Delhi voters crowd electoral office fearing removal from voter rolls
Hundreds of Delhi residents gather at the Nai Basti office in Okhla, trying to preserve their voting rights amid a sweeping voter-list cleanup.
In the southeastern Delhi district of Okhla, the Nai Basti electoral office has turned into a bustling hub where roughly a hundred people each day attempt to safeguard their franchise. Participants bring official papers in bags or boxes, hoping to prove their eligibility as authorities conduct an intensive revision of voter lists that began in June 2025. Unlike routine updates that remove deceased individuals or duplicate entries, this operation aims to prevent undocumented immigrants, particularly Bangladeshi Muslims, from voting—a goal championed by the BJP and its leader Narendra Modi.
The process has sparked anxiety among citizens, exemplified by Sabana Khatoon, 46, who clings to a possibly nullified voter card after being told she was removed from the list. The campaign reflects broader nationalist debates and raises concerns about disenfranchisement on a large scale.
Why it matters
The mass voter-list purge could disenfranchise millions, affecting India's democratic process.
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