Odisha CEO Orders Strict Verification After 'Wrongful Deletion' Of 9.8 Lakh Names From Voter List

The Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), RS Gopalan, has asked officials to carry out strict verification before removing nearly 9.8 lakh names from the state’s voter list. This decision comes after many people complained that their names were “wrongly deleted.”

The issue came up during the preparation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) had identified around 9.8 lakh names for deletion, mainly due to deaths or people moving to other places.

However, the CEO clarified that BLOs can only report such cases and are not allowed to delete names. The final decision will be taken by the EROs.

Officials said the CEO has also told Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to stop action in around 2 lakh

cases where complaints have already been filed. At least 50 per cent of these cases will now be checked again to ensure the process is fair and accurate.

Gopalan said that every year, around 7 to 9 lakh names are removed from the voter list in Odisha. This year, the number is higher, which has raised concerns, especially as the revision process is underway.

Opposition parties have questioned the large number of deletions. Both the BJD and Congress have raised concerns about the timing and scale of the exercise.

“Though usually, 7 lakh voters are deleted from the list annually in Odisha, this time three lakh more people have been removed from the list. There is apprehension that more voters’ names may be deleted during the SIR,” BJD senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra told reporters at a press conference.

Mishra said that a BJD team had earlier met the Election Commission of India on August 19, 2025, to raise concerns. “We had specifically urged that the names of people who migrate outside the state for work should not be removed from the voter list,” he said.

BJD leader Prasanna Acharya also alleged bias in the process. “The voter list is being prepared on political line and it should be rectified immediately. We urge the government and the ECI to address these doubts and ensure that the voting rights of citizens are not compromised,” Acharya said.

The Congress also called for transparency. “We demand a transparent voter list,” said Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das. He added that booth level agents of political parties should be involved in the process.

In an official letter, Additional Chief Electoral Officer-cum-Special Secretary Sushanta Kumar Mishra pointed out problems in the deletion process. “I am directed to inform that approximately 9.8 lakh deletions have been carried out by the EROs since the commencement of the elector mapping process. However, a substantial number of complaints have been received regarding wrongful deletion of names, including cases where electors were found to be present and instances where BLOs had neither conducted field visits nor carried out proper verification prior to deletion.”

The letter also asked officials to keep on hold Form-7 applications of around 2 lakh voters and to carry out detailed checks, especially in cases related to deceased voters.

Earlier, in March, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had told the Assembly that around 7.68 lakh names were removed between June 2025 and March 22, 2026.

To help voters, the CEO’s office has started a toll-free helpline (1950). People can use it to check if their names are on the voter list, file complaints, or seek help.