UP CEO orders removal of staff over 13 'Vikas Yadav' entries in Azamgarh voter roll
Synopsis
What began as an SP allegation of 10 duplicate voter entries in Azamgarh snowballed into a confirmed 13-entry anomaly — and now a computer assistant, five Booth Level Officers, one ERO, and two AEROs face termination notices or charge sheets. The CEO has also ordered a district-wide roll audit within a week, raising the stakes for electoral integrity in UP.
Key Takeaways
The UP Chief Electoral Officer ordered the removal of a computer assistant and five BLOs from electoral roll duties on 24 October 2026 .
A probe confirmed 13 entries of the name 'Vikas Yadav' in Azamgarh Assembly constituency number 347 — up from the 10 alleged by the Samajwadi Party.
The 11 remaining entries (after 2 deletions) belong to 11 different individuals; Form-8 applications filed for 10 of them.
Notices served on officials under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 ; charge sheets issued to the then ERO and two AEROs.
A district-wide review of all Azamgarh Assembly constituency rolls ordered, with a report due within one week .
The office of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Saturday, 24 October 2026, directed the immediate removal of a computer assistant and five Booth Level Officers (BLOs) from all electoral roll-related duties after an investigation uncovered 13 duplicate entries of the name 'Vikas Yadav' in the voter list of Azamgarh Assembly constituency number 347. Departmental proceedings have also been initiated against senior electoral officials for negligence.
How the Issue Came to Light
The Samajwadi Party (SP) first flagged the irregularity at a press conference on 15 October 2026, alleging that a single individual named Vikas Yadav appeared 10 times in the Azamgarh constituency voter list. Taking cognisance of the complaint, the CEO's office directed Azamgarh District Election Officer Ravindra Kumar to conduct a detailed investigation.
The probe revealed that the name 'Vikas Yadav' (in Hindi) appeared not 10 but 13 times in the electoral roll of constituency number 347 — a figure that exceeded even the SP's original claim.
What the Investigation Found
Of the 13 entries, the deletion process for two had already been completed in accordance with prescribed rules. The remaining 11 entries were found to belong to 11 distinct individuals residing in their respective villages across Azamgarh district — not a single person registered multiple times. Form-8 applications have been submitted for 10 of those persons to correct their names and personal details, with the genuinely registered Vikas Yadav's entry left intact.
The investigation also clarified that a voter bearing the same name and parentage in the Chauri-Chaura Assembly constituency of Gorakhpur district is a separate individual with no connection to the Azamgarh entries.
Action Ordered Against Officials
Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa directed that the computer assistant posted at the Voter Registration Centre and the five BLOs found responsible be immediately removed from all electoral roll work. Notices have been served on them regarding termination of services.
Notices have additionally been issued to the computer assistant, the five BLOs, the then-Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), and two Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) prior to initiating action under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Charge sheets have been served on the then ERO and both AEROs for negligence in the discharge of official duties and lack of proper supervision during the preparation of the electoral roll.
Broader Review Ordered Across Azamgarh
The Azamgarh District Election Officer has been instructed to conduct a comprehensive examination of the electoral rolls of all Assembly constituencies in the district on this specific issue and submit a detailed report within one week. The CEO's office reiterated that the Election Commission of India maintains a zero-tolerance approach towards irregularities in the preparation and maintenance of electoral rolls.
This action comes amid heightened scrutiny of voter rolls ahead of electoral cycles in Uttar Pradesh, where electoral roll integrity has repeatedly become a flashpoint between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition parties, particularly the SP. The district-wide review could surface further discrepancies beyond the Azamgarh constituency case.
Point of View
EROs, and AEROs simultaneously. The SP's original figure of 10 actually undersold the problem, which should prompt a rethink of how voter data is digitised and cross-checked at the ground level. The district-wide audit ordered within a week is the right call, but it raises an uncomfortable question: if this surfaced only because a political party raised it publicly, how many similar anomalies remain buried in rolls across the state's 403 constituencies? Zero-tolerance is a sound stated principle; the test is whether the Election Commission applies it with equal rigour across all districts and all electoral cycles.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was found in the Azamgarh voter roll investigation?
The investigation confirmed 13 entries of the name 'Vikas Yadav' in Azamgarh Assembly constituency number 347 — more than the 10 alleged by the Samajwadi Party. The probe found these belonged to 11 distinct individuals (after 2 deletions), not a single person registered repeatedly.
Who has been held accountable for the Azamgarh voter roll irregularity?
A computer assistant at the Voter Registration Centre and five Booth Level Officers have been removed from all electoral roll duties and served notices regarding termination. Charge sheets have also been issued to the then Electoral Registration Officer and two Assistant Electoral Registration Officers for negligence and lack of supervision.
What action was taken under the Representation of the People Act?
The UP Chief Electoral Officer issued notices to all responsible officials prior to initiating action under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which governs offences related to electoral rolls.
What happens next in Azamgarh after this probe?
The Azamgarh District Election Officer has been directed to audit the electoral rolls of all Assembly constituencies in the district and submit a comprehensive report within one week. Form-8 correction applications have been filed for 10 of the 11 remaining Vikas Yadav entries.
Why did the Samajwadi Party raise this issue?
The Samajwadi Party raised the issue at a press conference on 15 October 2026, alleging that one individual's name appeared 10 times in the Azamgarh voter list — flagging it as evidence of electoral roll manipulation. The official investigation subsequently confirmed 13 such entries, all belonging to different persons.
