NEW DELHI: Most minority-dominated assembly constituencies in Delhi have recorded higher voter verification rates during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with Seelampur registering the highest rate at 76.6%.
The higher verification rates could mean fewer deletions from the draft electoral roll in these constituencies.
Verification rates varied considerably across the city. Outer Delhi constituencies such as Rohini (83%), Shakur Basti (81%) and Mangolpuri (78%) recorded relatively high rates, while several upscale constituencies, including R K Puram (44.5%) and Kasturba Nagar (44%), recorded much lower verification levels.
Among minority-dominated constituencies, Matia Mahal recorded 75.5% verification, followed by Babarpur at 72.9% and Mustafabad at 71.9%.
In Old Delhi, Ballimaran recorded 67.3% verification, while Chandni Chowk stood at 60.9%. Okhla was a notable exception, with only 54.6% of existing voters verified. Officials attributed the lower rate in part to higher migration.
SIR verification: Kalkaji, New Delhi among laggards
According to an official, during the enumeration period from June 30 to August 18, most minority-dominated constituencies showed greater participation in the SIR process. In some areas, local residents also helped others submit their forms on time.
The official said similar levels of participation were not seen in several predominantly upscale constituencies.
Officials attributed the higher verification rates in minority-dominated areas to several factors, including extensive local awareness campaigns. In some neighbourhoods, residents volunteered to explain the process to others through videos, physical meetings and other outreach efforts.
Delhi has 70 assembly constituencies and around 1.45 crore registered voters. Of these, 97.5 lakh voters had submitted their details by August 17, the last day for submitting enumeration forms.
Nearly 33% of the electorate did not submit their forms for various reasons, with officials saying migration from registered addresses was a major factor.
Around 47.6 lakh voters are likely to be excluded from the draft electoral roll when it is published on August 24. However, voters whose names are left out will be able to file claims and objections between August 24 and September 23.
Across Delhi, verification rates ranged from 52.1% in Tughlakabad to 83.4% in Rohini.
Uttam Nagar, which has several unauthorised colonies, recorded 77.7% verification, while outer Delhi constituencies including Narela, Bawana and Madipur each crossed 76%.
By contrast, several middle-income constituencies in South and Central Delhi recorded some of the lowest verification rates. Kalkaji stood at 57.2%, followed by Badarpur at 57.3%, New Delhi at 58.2%, Jangpura at 58.4%, Mehrauli at 58.9%, Sangam Vihar at 59.2%, Patel Nagar at 59.2% and Karol Bagh at 59.5%.
Poll officials said variations in verification rates could be linked to several ground-level factors, including migration patterns and lower participation among some voters, particularly in upscale residential areas.
One registered voter told TOI that he had struggled to complete the SIR process because the BLO was unavailable, the paperwork was confusing and officials said his photograph did not match their records.
