BJP blames voter list irregularities for Cong win in Palampur MC poll

Kapoor presented documents and voter-list data and alleged that several persons linked to local Congress functionaries had duplicate entries in different areas and, in some cases, different EPIC numbers. He stated that the votes of migrant workers and temporary catering staff belonging to other states had been included in the Palampur Municipal Corporation voter lists.

Kapoor alleged that in 2021, the voter lists were not available with the election office when the latest voter rolls were prepared and that new names were added without adequate verification of the previous records. He added that claims submitted by BJP supporters for inclusion in the voter lists were not properly processed.

Kapoor alleged that the names of the existing voters were deleted in a systematic manner and duplicate enteries were made while a supplementary voter list was not made available to BJP candidates until the final stage of nominations, which contained entries with no house numbers and missing EPIC details.

Kapoor demanded a CBI probe into the alleged voter-list manipulation, strict legal action against those responsible and immediate registration of FIRs against persons having duplicate EPIC cards. He also demanded an SIR of electoral rolls in all civic bodies, besides Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies.

Kapoor said that the BJP would approach the Himachal Pradesh High Court to seek an investigation, voter-list correction and fresh elections in the Palampur Municipal Corporation.