The tarpaulin hamlet on the Yamuna’s edge, once a thriving community, now watches its political voice vanish as the draft electoral rolls list only a single voter. Residents argue that their 2002 registration cards, past voting slips, and 550 SIR forms demonstrate continuous presence and participation in Delhi’s elections, including the 2025 poll. They fear the deletion will be used to brand them as recent arrivals and justify eviction from a settlement they have inhabited for generations.
The Election Commission cites the ASDD categorisation—absent, shifted, deceased or duplicate—after a verification process that flagged the missing names. Delhi’s CEO office clarified that names can still be reinstated through Form 6 during the objection window, which closes on 30‑10‑2026. “Being left out of the draft roll does not mean permanent exclusion,” the office said.
Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the estate last week added a national flare, branding the SIR exercise as “vote theft.” His criticism coincided with a flurry of media coverage, and local leaders are demanding a transparent audit of the deletion criteria.
The final electoral roll, incorporating any successful objections, will be published before the upcoming elections. Residents are preparing to present their case at the electoral registration office, hoping the court‑ordered deadline will protect their civic identity.