Irregularities reported in electoral rolls of MP 'not substantiated': EC

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday told the Congress party that the irregularities reported in the electoral rolls of Madhya Pradesh are "not substantiated".

In a letter to the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the EC said, "House-to-house verification of electors completed on June 30. 1,19,44,927 houses surveyed. Number of unenrolled citizens found was 6,26,955. Number of unenrolled citizens found was 6,26,955."

"In view of the reports of the extensive door-to-door field verifications and facts explained above, your allegations of large-scale duplicate, repeat, invalid and false etc. electors in the electoral roll are not substantiated," the letter read.

Earlier, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia had requested the Election Commission to thoroughly probe the alleged irregularities reported in the electoral rolls of Madhya Pradesh.

The EC had earlier rejected reports of any irregularities in the electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh.

Responding to the allegation levelled by the Congress, the EC in a statement had said "nothing unusual" could be noticed in the electoral rolls of the state.

It was pointed out that there has been unexplained growth in the electors in Madhya Pradesh as the Elector Population (EP) ratio which used to be 52.76 percent in 2008 increased to 61.45 percent in 2018.

Following this, the EC also ordered an investigation into the alleged irregularities in electoral rolls of the state.

In February this year, the Congress had complained to the EC about discrepancies in Madhya Pradesh's voters' list and asked it to take necessary steps for ensuring free and fair elections.

Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Kamal Nath had also alleged that 60 lakh fake voters were deliberately registered in the state's voter list.

On a related note, Madhya Pradesh is scheduled to go for polls later this year.