Voter List Update Causes Chaos in Khandwa’s Muslim Wards; Collector Steps In Late at Night

Khandwa (MP): Administrative tension gripped several Muslim-majority wards in Khandwa as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of voter lists, underway since November 4 under Election Commission directives, faced significant issues. Residents reported missing names from the 2003 voter list, mismatches of ward assignments, and delays in receiving enumeration forms from Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

Confusion and Frustration Among Residents

Numerous families faced difficulties filling forms or locating their names in the updated lists. In some households, husbands were listed but wives were missing, while newly married women were absent from old records. In some wards, mixed-up enumeration forms left residents, especially uneducated individuals, searching for hours.

Example: Amina, wife of Shafeeq from Bhairav Talab ward, was mistakenly updated in Bhopal’s Huzur constituency instead of Khandwa, despite residing there for years. Such errors fueled widespread frustration and anxiety in Muslim-majority neighborhoods.

Collector Intervenes Late at Night

Responding to complaints, Khandwa Collector Rishav Gupta visited Khanshahwali late Friday night. The Collector held discussions with BLOs and residents, listened to grievances, and instructed officials to resolve technical issues promptly. He assured residents that no eligible citizen’s name would be removed from the voter list.

Guidelines for Updating Names

The Collector clarified that if a person’s name is missing from the 2003 list, the names of parents or grandparents can be used temporarily. Any remaining discrepancies will be addressed in a special revision scheduled after December 4. Residents welcomed this assurance with applause at Jubeda Hall, as officials pledged to conduct night-time surveys to reduce inconvenience caused by daytime app failures.

Form Distribution Issues

In areas including Bhairav Talab, Bombay Bazaar, and Kaharwadi, many residents did not receive enumeration forms on time. This particularly affected individuals with common names such as Mohammad Ayub, Yunus, Rafiq, and Shakeel, making it difficult to identify and submit their forms, with risks of exclusion from the voter list if forms are not submitted promptly.

Progress and Community Participation

Out of 10,29,806 registered voters in Khandwa district, 4,29,713 forms (41.73%) have been updated online. Collector Gupta has committed to completing 100% of updates by December 4.

In a show of community initiative, Muslim residents have been making announcements via loudspeakers in areas including Jalebi Chowk, Machhi Bazaar, Kaharwadi, and Bombay Bazaar, urging everyone to prioritize voter list updates before attending other responsibilities.