Gujarat's Surat residents accuse BJP corporator of falsely declaring Muslim voters 'dead' on voter rolls
The Wire Hindi reported receiving the names and EPIC numbers of around 118 muslim individuals allegedly declared dead through Form 7 applications, and said Gujarat’s draft roll published on 19 December 2025 showed 4.34 crore voters, down from 5.08 crore — a drop of over 7.37 million names.
A controversy has erupted in the Salabatpura area of Surat, where several residents have accused BJP corporator Vikram Popat Patil of attempting to remove their names from the electoral rolls by falsely declaring them deceased, according to a report by The Wire Hindi.
All the complainants are Muslims.
Residents allege that Form 7 — used to seek deletion of a voter's name — was misused to file applications against numerous living voters.
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Copies of the applications reportedly carry Patil's name and mobile number. When contacted by The Wire Hindi, Patil said, "There is nothing of the sort," before disconnecting the call. He did not respond to subsequent calls or messages before publication of the report.
The report further claims that the signature on the Form 7 applications matches the signature Patil submitted in his 2021 election affidavit during the Surat Municipal Corporation polls.
Inspector KD Jadeja of Salabatpur Police Station did not respond to queries regarding any action taken on the complaints.
How the issue surfaced
The controversy began after the publication of Gujarat's draft electoral roll on 19 December 2025 as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
Although more than 7.3 million names were removed during the revision, the complainants' names remained on the draft list, which included approximately 43.4 million voters. Citizens were allowed to file claims and objections until 18 January 2026.
Abdul Razzaq Wazir Shah, 69, a resident of Anwarnagar and one of the complainants, told The Wire Hindi: "The BJP is targeting us because we are Muslims. Our votes are being deliberately removed."
"During the SIR, we provided proof of our voter status. Our names were included in the draft list. However, later, the BJP corporator from our area, Vikram Popat Patil, filled out Form 7, declaring us dead. We learned about this from the BLO (Block Level Officer). He showed us the Form 7 applications," he added.
According to Shah, similar applications were filed declaring his son and wife deceased. All three forms allegedly bear Patil's name and number. The BLO, identified as Salman, declined to comment, citing regulations.
As news spread in the Muslim-majority locality, more residents checked their voter status. The Wire Hindi reported receiving the names and EPIC numbers of around 118 individuals allegedly declared dead through Form 7 applications.
On 22 January 2026, several affected voters gathered at Salabatpur Police Station, demanding the registration of an FIR, legal action against the corporator and an independent inquiry into the electoral rolls.
Residents claim they have lived at the same addresses for years and have regularly voted, yet faced attempts to remove their names by declaring them dead. Some allege the matter reflects religious profiling and political targeting ahead of upcoming local body elections.
What is Form 7?
Form 7 is an application submitted to the Electoral Registration Officer to object to the inclusion of another person's name in the roll or to request deletion of one's own name. It is governed by Rules 13(2) and 26 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
Only a registered voter from the same constituency and polling station may submit the form, providing their name, EPIC number and supporting evidence. Filing a false declaration is punishable under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, with imprisonment of up to one year or a fine.
The Wire Hindi also cited remarks by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who reportedly said:
"All the complaints that have been filed have been done at my behest. I have told BJP workers to continuously file complaints against the Miya community. There is nothing to hide. I have held meetings, video conferences, and urged people to fill out Form 7 wherever possible, so that they have to run around a bit and face some trouble…"
Gujarat BJP spokesperson Anil Patel did not respond to a request for comment.
Opposition reaction
The Congress party has described the matter as "electoral manipulation".
Aslam Cyclewala, secretary of the Gujarat Congress Committee, told The Wire Hindi: "First of all, even though no evidence was provided with Form 7, such applications are being accepted. We demand these applications to be rejected. Only those applications accompanied by supporting evidence should be considered and forwarded to the BLOs for verification."
He further alleged, "Muslims are being specifically targeted. Attempts are being made to snatch away their citizenship and constitutional rights. We will fight till the end to save justice and democracy."
Gujarat SIR process
Following the completion of the SIR in Bihar, the second phase covered nine states and three Union Territories, including Gujarat. The process began on 4 November 2025.
In Gujarat, the draft roll published on 19 December 2025 recorded approximately 4.34 crore voters, down from 5.08 crore prior to revision — indicating the removal of over 7.37 million names, according to The Wire Hindi.
The Election Commission stated that deleted entries included deceased voters, relocated individuals and duplicate names. District-level data suggests the highest percentage declines were recorded in Surat (25.7%), Ahmedabad (23.2%), Vadodara (18.7%), Bharuch (16.4%) and Valsad (16.3%).
The Commission maintains that the exercise was undertaken to ensure accuracy and reliability of the voter database. Claims and objections were to be resolved by 10 February 2026, after which the final electoral rolls would be published.
