Election officials in Godda, Jharkhand, have launched an investigation into the submission of Form 7 applications aimed at removing voters’ names from the electoral roll at Booth No. 9 in Maheshtikri village, located in the Basantrai block. This inquiry follows concerns raised by Block Level Officers (BLOs) regarding the legitimacy of these applications, as reported by The Indian Express.
Sriman Marandi, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Basantrai, stated on Wednesday that the Deputy Election Officer (DEO) has requested a detailed report, prompting the dispatch of a Block Panchayati Raj Officer to Maheshtikri for a field investigation. The findings from this inquiry are expected to be submitted by Thursday.
According to Marandi, the panchayat officer visited the village to gather insights from the locals. He indicated that the results of these discussions would be shared with the block-level officer before being sent to the DEO.
Marandi, who also serves as the Electoral Registration Officer for the block, noted that the current inquiry is focused specifically on Booth No. 9 in Maheshtikri. He acknowledged that there have been informal discussions about similar allegations in two to three other locations, but no formal complaints have been recorded for these areas.
“The information we have received from Booth Level Agents (BLAs) pertains solely to Booth No. 9. Voter complaints have also been directed at this booth. While there are mentions of issues in a couple of other areas, we have not received any written evidence regarding those, which is why our inquiry is limited to this booth,” Marandi explained.
He further clarified that this investigation is independent of a preliminary verification process he initiated upon first learning of the situation. As part of this process, officials had consulted with the BLO of Booth No. 9 regarding 25 Form 7 applications submitted. “The BLO informed us that 24 of these individuals are residents of the village. The 25th individual, although a local, has been away for work for a couple of months. These are all regular residents whom the BLO recognizes,” Marandi added.
The Indian Express reported that BLOs at four different booths have refused to process Form 7 applications, citing concerns over their authenticity and procedural compliance. The applicants for these forms were identified as members of the BJP, and many voters targeted by these applications belong to minority communities.
At Booth No. 9, 25 forms were submitted against voters by BJP BLA Sanjeev Kumar Roshan. Interviews with eight affected voters revealed their apprehensions about potential disenfranchisement and exclusion from government welfare programs.
In a nearby booth, another BJP BLA arrived with 75 Form 7 applications, which he claimed he burned on the spot after being questioned by the BLO.
BLOs are government employees under the current administration, which is a coalition of the JMM and Congress parties.
Marandi emphasized that the administration will await the official inquiry report before making any further evaluations regarding the complaints from Booth No. 9. He previously indicated that due to the uncertainty surrounding the forms’ origins, BLOs had been instructed not to act on them. However, he has since communicated to the BLOs that any doubts about a Form 7 objection should be discussed with the relevant election official instead of outright rejecting the applications.
Marandi mentioned that he had consulted with K Ravi Kumar, the Chief Electoral Officer of Jharkhand, who advised that Form 7 applications must be accepted and processed according to established procedures.
Shubham Tigga, a correspondent for The Indian Express based in Pune, focuses on topics intersecting infrastructure, labor, and the modern economy. His reporting covers civil aviation, urban mobility, the gig economy, and labor unions, offering critical insights into the daily impacts of transit and commercial sectors on citizens’ lives.
Before relocating to Pune, Tigga reported extensively from Chhattisgarh, emphasizing Indigenous issues, environmental justice, and grassroots movements throughout mainland India. This background provides him with a distinctive perspective on how large-scale infrastructure initiatives affect local communities.
Tigga is a graduate of the esteemed Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), where he developed his investigative reporting and ethical journalism skills. His academic training, coupled with his field experience in Central India, equips him to navigate complex socio-economic issues with precision and depth.
