Ahmedabad/Junagadh, Jan 27 (NationPress) A new political uproar has surfaced in Gujarat following a request to exclude Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai, popularly known as Haji Ramakdu, from the electoral register in Junagadh, coinciding with his recent accolade as a recipient of the Padma Shri 2026.

Haji Ramakdu, an 80-year-old folk artist celebrated for his dholak performances and contributions to bhajans, santvani, ghazals, and qawwali both nationally and internationally, received the Padma Shri on the eve of the 77th Republic Day, acknowledging his remarkable six-decade artistic journey.

The controversy arose from an objection submitted through Form-7 during the state's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.

A local Bharatiya Janata Party councillor reportedly filed the form alleging that Haji Ramakdu had permanently moved elsewhere and sought the removal of his name from the voter list.

Leaders from the Congress party contested this claim, asserting that the artist has resided in Junagadh for many years and questioned the rationale behind his name's removal.

Spokesperson Manish Doshi denounced the action, stating: “The very individual who has, through his artistry, brought acclaim to Gujarat, the nation, and the world is now facing an attempt to have his name expunged from the electoral roll.”

He called for a review of the procedure and an investigation into the grounds of the objection.

Doshi highlighted that similar disputes have previously arisen in the case of Shahabuddin Rathod, another notable humorist and Padma Shri honoree whose name was reportedly targeted through the SIR process earlier this month.

Rathod, recognized for his contributions to Gujarati literature and performance, confirmed that a Form-7 had been submitted in his name without his authorization, prompting him to engage with local authorities.

“Even if someone submits the form in my name, my voter registration cannot be revoked without proper verification,” he stated.

According to electoral regulations, Form-7 can be utilized to object to an inclusion or to request the removal of a name from the electoral roll. However, it is imperative that authorities validate these claims and provide individuals with an opportunity to respond prior to any deletion.

The Congress party has framed these occurrences as part of larger concerns regarding the SIR exercise, which has seen thousands of deletion requests across the state.

Party officials are advocating for transparency in the process and a thorough review of the alleged misuse of objection procedures during the electoral list revision.

The Chief Electoral Officer has yet to release a public statement regarding the specific objections raised in the Haji Ramakdu case.