Dehradun: Congress MLA Kazi Nizamuddin on Wednesday questioned the conduct of electoral processes in Uttarakhand, raising concerns over alleged irregularities in voter-list revision, local elections, cooperative polls and the DAV PG College student union election.
Addressing a press conference at the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters in Dehradun, Nizamuddin said free and fair elections are central to public confidence in democracy and alleged that the rights of voters must not be compromised during electoral or administrative processes.
He claimed that questions were emerging at multiple levels regarding the functioning of election-related machinery and administrative intervention, and said the Congress would raise its voice against any alleged violation of voting rights.
Eight Recounts Cited in Haridwar Village Election
Nizamuddin referred to the Gram Pradhan election in Nathun Khedi village of Narsan block in Haridwar district.
According to his claim, Sushil Kumar initially won the election by 22 votes, but the counting was subsequently conducted eight times. He alleged that after the eighth recount, Kumar was declared defeated by one vote.
Nizamuddin questioned the need for repeated recounting and sought greater clarity on the procedure followed in the case, describing it as an issue concerning electoral transparency and voters’ rights.
Questions Raised Over Mangalore Civic Election
The Congress MLA also cited the case of Chaudhary Islam in connection with elections in Mangalore Municipality.
Nizamuddin claimed that Islam had earlier been elected unopposed as a councillor and subsequently won the municipal chairperson’s election. He alleged that at a later stage, his nomination was rejected on the day of symbol allotment following a complaint related to alleged encroachment on Nazul land.
He questioned whether adequate inquiry and an opportunity for a hearing were provided before the nomination was rejected, and called for transparency and adherence to due process in election-related decisions.
Cooperative Election Delimitation Under Scanner
Nizamuddin also raised questions over the delimitation process for cooperative elections.
He alleged that a delimitation notification was issued initially and subsequently altered, with elections held under the revised arrangement within a short period. According to him, the changes were made within around 15 days.
He argued that repeated changes to electoral arrangements can raise questions among voters and candidates and stressed the need for a transparent and clearly documented process.
DAV Student Election Action Also Questioned
The Congress MLA also raised the issue of action against Congress leader and former NSUI office-bearer Vineet Prasad Bhatt during the DAV PG College student union election.
Nizamuddin said the Congress was not seeking to defend anyone against whom a criminal case may have been registered, but questioned the timing of the police action during the student election.
Reports from the election day said police reached the DAV campus in connection with a warrant against Bhatt, while the presence of police and subsequent commotion led to tensions on the campus. The issue also triggered political allegations from Congress over the timing of the action.
The DAV election itself witnessed disruptions and controversy during the voting and counting process. ABVP’s Navdeep Rana was elected president, while reports also cited disputes and commotion during the proceedings.
Concerns Over SIR and Electoral Roll
Nizamuddin also questioned the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttarakhand, expressing concern over the process of adding and deleting names from voter lists.
He said the Congress was concerned about the protection of genuine voters’ rights and demanded transparency throughout the revision process.
The Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer’s office has separately published SIR-related notices, draft electoral rolls and other documents on its official portal. The official SIR schedule and updates are being released through the CEO office.
The Congress MLA said his party would monitor the process and raise objections wherever it believed a genuine voter’s rights were at risk.
‘Voter Rights Must Remain at the Centre’
Nizamuddin said every voter has the right to participate in the democratic process and choose a candidate of their choice.
He urged political parties and the administration to strengthen public confidence in electoral institutions and said young people should be encouraged to believe in democratic processes rather than become distrustful of them.
The Congress leader also appealed to the BJP to focus on strengthening democratic values and ensuring that elections remain transparent and credible.
Senior Congress vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana, state general secretary Rajendra Shah, spokesperson Dr Pratima Singh, Minority Department chairman Suleman Ansari, Social Media Department chairman Abhinav Thapar, former municipal chairman Islam Ansari and other party leaders were present at the press conference.
