Millions face voter-list exclusion in Muslim-heavy areas of India
Nearly 30% of voters in 38 Maharashtra constituencies with sizeable Muslim populations have been flagged for exclusion, deepening fears over minority voting rights under India’s electoral overhaul
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Millions of voters in Muslim-populated parts of western India are at risk of being excluded from voter lists, raising concerns that a sweeping electoral overhaul could disenfranchise legitimate voters, including members of the country’s Muslim minority.
More than 3.7 million people across 38 constituencies in Maharashtra with significant Muslim populations have been flagged for exclusion from the state’s new draft voter register. That represents 29.7% of voters previously registered in those constituencies.
According to an analysis by The Indian Express, the rate is considerably higher than Maharashtra’s statewide figure of 21.1%, where more than 20 million voters have been flagged.
The figures have fueled concerns because a person’s name must appear on India’s voter register to cast a ballot. Those currently excluded still have an opportunity to challenge their removal, but legitimate voters who fail to get their names restored before the final register is published could effectively lose their ability to vote.
Several constituencies with large Muslim populations have recorded particularly striking numbers.
About 49% of previously registered voters were flagged in Bhiwandi East and more than 44% in Bhiwandi West. In Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, where Muslims make up more than half the population, around 42% were affected.
Chandivali, where Muslims constitute about 28% of the population, recorded an exclusion rate of 41.4%, while the figure was around 38% in Mumbadevi. Several other constituencies with substantial Muslim populations recorded rates exceeding 35%.
The data does not identify voters by religion, meaning it cannot establish how many of those flagged are Muslims or prove that Muslims were deliberately targeted. Malegaon Central, where Muslims constitute about 78% of the population, recorded a lower exclusion rate of 23.4%.
The scale of exclusions in several Muslim-heavy constituencies has nevertheless alarmed opposition politicians and minority advocates, who fear the process could disproportionately weaken the electoral voice of communities already underrepresented in Indian politics.
The changes are being made under a nationwide voter-verification exercise known officially as the Special Intensive Revision. Election officials are rechecking existing voter records and flagging people they classify as dead, relocated, absent, duplicated or otherwise unable to be verified.
Analysts argue that such a process can also place the burden on genuine voters to prove that they should remain registered, potentially putting migrants, poorer residents and people facing documentation difficulties at greater risk of exclusion.
Election authorities say the current list is preliminary and affected voters can seek restoration until Sept. 30. Maharashtra’s final voter register is scheduled to be published Nov. 4.
The controversy has implications beyond Maharashtra as similar verification is being carried out elsewhere in India.
The Supreme Court has allowed the exercise to continue but has made clear that election authorities cannot use voter-list verification to independently decide whether a person is an Indian citizen.
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