The student body has urged election authorities to scrutinise voter lists in 195 villages during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise, citing concerns over suspected illegal immigration
Aizwal: The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) called for a thorough verification of electoral rolls in parts of Mizoram during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, alleging a sharp rise in voter numbers in areas identified by the organisation as vulnerable to illegal immigration.
Addressing a press conference in Aizawl, MZP president C. Lalremruata said the student body’s analysis of the 2005 and 2024 electoral rolls revealed what it described as an “alarming demographic shift” in 195 villages.
According to the organisation, voter numbers in these villages increased from 43,540 in 2005 to 96,531 in 2024, representing a rise of 121.7 per cent. The MZP also claimed that 97 villages appearing in the 2024 electoral rolls were absent from the 2005 rolls and together accounted for 39,428 voters. “Our analysis has revealed significant changes that require detailed verification,” Lalremruata said.
The MZP President further alleged that the review uncovered cases of dual Indian and Bangladeshi citizenship and voter entries without valid house numbers. The organisation said it would submit a formal representation to the Chief Electoral Officer seeking verification of all 195 villages, including areas where the SIR process has already been completed.
Meanwhile, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Ethel Rothangpuii said the SIR exercise is underway across Mizoram and will continue until June 28. She stated that voters whose family records cannot be traced to the 2005 electoral rolls would be removed from the voter list.
Draft electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on July 4, followed by a claims and objections period from July 5 to August 4. The MZP’s allegations have not been independently verified by election authorities.
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