VVMC Introduces Voter Choice System For Duplicate Entries As BVA Pursues High Court Action
Vasai: The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) has introduced a system enabling voters with duplicate entries to select their polling station through a designated form. Meanwhile, the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) has escalated the double voter controversy to the High Court with a legal petition, with proceedings set for December 22.
Background
The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation is preparing to conduct its general elections after a five-year interval. The civic body encompasses 29 electoral wards, with plans to elect four corporators each from 28 wards and three from the 29th ward, making 115 total seats. Political organizations are intensifying their campaign efforts while the municipal administration undertakes comprehensive electoral preparations.
The corporation recently released its preliminary voter register containing 11,27,640 registered voters. This compilation was developed using the Assembly constituency electoral data effective until July 1, 2025. Upon examination, officials discovered around 52,378 duplicate registrations within the published rolls.
During their scrutiny of the ward-specific draft lists, political organizations identified numerous repeated entries. The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi raised concerns about 80,000 duplicate registrations and pushed for their removal.
The duplicate voter situation has emerged as a significant challenge. To address this impasse, the Election Commission has authorized individuals with multiple registrations to exercise their franchise at a single polling location of their choosing. Following this directive, the VVMC posted a roster of 50,000 duplicate voters on its official website. Officials have urged these individuals to confirm their details and designate their preferred voting location.
Nevertheless, the BVA has intensified its stance on the duplicate voter matter. BVA representative Ajiv Patil has submitted a High Court petition concerning the issue, scheduled for hearing on December 22, 2025.
Patil emphasized, “Rather than collecting declaration forms, these duplicate entries must be eliminated completely. With numerous duplicate registrations concentrated in individual wards, the potential for electoral manipulation exists.”