LUCKNOW: The Election Commission has initiated strict action against nine officials and staff members after a voter list audit in Azamgarh revealed that the name of a single individual, Vikas Yadav, was registered across eleven separate locations. Following a similar irregularity uncovered in Pilibhit, an inquiry directed by Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa confirmed the duplication in Assembly Constituency 347, Azamgarh. The election authorities have terminated the services of a contractual computer assistant and five Booth Level Officers, while ordering departmental action against an Electoral Registration Officer who serves as Sub-Divisional Magistrate and two Assistant Electoral Registration Officers. First Information Reports are set to be filed against all nine under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which carries provisions for up to two years of imprisonment and monetary fines.
Inquiry Confirms Duplication and Corrective Measures
According to the official report submitted by the District Election Officer to the Chief Electoral Officer, the individual’s name was initially entered at thirteen separate places in the registry. Two of those entries had been removed earlier, leaving eleven duplicate listings active on the rolls. Officials confirmed that only one entry corresponds to the genuine Vikas Yadav. To rectify the remaining ten records, administrative staff have initiated the submission of Form 8 to replace the duplicate entries with the actual voters’ genuine names and proper particulars.
Comprehensive Audit Ordered Across All Constituencies
Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav had previously raised the issue after highlighting the voter list duplication and presenting Vikas Yadav before the media. In the wake of the confirmed findings, election authorities have ordered a complete review of electoral rolls across every assembly constituency within Azamgarh district. The detailed verification report must be submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer within a week. Administrative warnings indicate that any further detection of duplicated voter identities will attract strict departmental and legal action against the responsible staff.
Congress Demands Halt to Revision and Review of Electoral Rolls
Meanwhile, the controversy has triggered wider political reactions at the national level. Citing irregularities emerging in the voter lists for the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections, the Congress party has demanded an impartial nationwide investigation into electoral rolls. Sharing a related media report on social media platform X, Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh urged that the Special Intensive Revision process be stayed immediately. Ramesh also called for the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the roll anomalies.
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