More than 85% of the applications seeking deletion from Uttarakhand’s electoral rolls came from four plains districts, according to data reported during the claims-and-objections process. Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar, Dehradun and Nainital together accounted for the overwhelming majority of the 1,30,382 Form-7 applications filed across the state.

Udham Singh Nagar recorded the highest number, with 43,878 applications. The figures have drawn attention to the geographic concentration of requests, particularly because the four districts are among Uttarakhand’s plains areas.

Most applications remain under process

The disposal of applications was still incomplete as of September 7. A total of 44,132 applications had been disposed of by that date, while 86,250 remained under process.

The numbers reflect applications submitted during the claims-and-objections period and do not, by themselves, establish that all the names identified in the applications have been removed from the electoral rolls. The process remains subject to scrutiny before the final roll is published.

The Election Commission has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections from September 9 to September 28. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on October 3.

Government and Opposition differ over process

The BJP government attributed the concentration of applications largely to migration and population movement. The explanation points to changes in where people live as a factor behind the higher number of requests in the four districts.

Congress leaders, however, questioned the manner in which the deletion process was being conducted. Their objections come as most of the applications remain pending and the deadline for claims and objections has been extended.

The extended window gives applicants and other stakeholders additional time to raise objections or submit claims before the electoral roll is finalised. The Election Commission’s decision also means that the current figures do not represent the final outcome of the exercise.

Final roll due on October 3

With 86,250 applications still under process as of September 7, further scrutiny is expected before the final publication. The authorities will have to complete the pending work and consider claims and objections filed by the revised September 28 deadline.

The final electoral roll, scheduled for October 3, will indicate the outcome of the ongoing process. Until then, the available data show a marked concentration of voter-deletion applications in Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar, Dehradun and Nainital, rather than a completed set of deletions from the state’s rolls.