BJP getting voters’ names deleted: AAP

NEW DELHI: The AAP on Friday alleged that the BJP has struck off names of voters belonging to the Purvanchali community, traders and Muslims because the party in power at the Centre feels these sections will not support it in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The BJP rejected AAP’S allegations, saying the party ruling Delhi was spreading hatred through its politics of “religion and casteism”.

“We have found that names of over 30 lakh voters have been deleted from the electoral rolls of Delhi. This is being done at the behest of BJP and the most affected communities are Purvanchalis, traders and Muslims,” AAP spokesperson Dilip Pandey told reporters here. Purvanchalis, people from eastern UP and Bihar, form a sizeable chunk of voters in capital.

“The BJP knows these three communities will not vote for them in 2019. The Purvanchalis have been targeted in Gujarat and Delhi. Traders are not happy due to GST and demonetisation and Muslims never vote for them. They (BJP) fear they will lose and hence are removing names of voters,” Pandey said.

The BJP rejected the allegations and accused AAP of resorting to divisive politics.

“I have data that says how many names of voters have increased in all assembly seats. AAP is lying and trying to mislead people. They should know voters will never entertain their divisive politics,” said Vijender Gupta, BJP MLA and leader of Opposition in Delhi assembly Gupta in a statement.

AAP leaders, including lawmakers, promised they would get the removed names back in the rolls.

Shalimar Bagh MLA Bandana Kumari and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha alleged Purvanchalis comprised major chunk of voters deleted from the rolls.

“From 21,849 names of voters removed, 10,645 are from Purvanchal. We are trying to get all these names registered again as voters,” said Kumari.

Jha said out of 21,104 names of voters removed from the rolls, 14,129 came from Purvanchal.