Pune: Wagholi Residents May Lose Voting Rights in PMC Elections
Pune, 1st August 2025: Raising concerns over voter disenfranchisement, Wagholi Against Corruption Organization (WACO) has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to revise the electoral roll for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections. The group warned that if the voter list is not updated beyond 1st July 2025, thousands of newly registered voters could be denied their constitutional right to vote.
Anil Kumar Mishra, president of WACO, submitted a formal letter to the State Election Commission, flagging the issue. “If the voter list prepared only till July 1 is used for local body elections, it will deprive thousands of citizens—especially in newly merged areas like Wagholi—of their right to vote under Article 326 of the Constitution,” Mishra said.
Citing constitutional provisions and previous Supreme Court directives, WACO emphasized that every adult citizen is entitled to vote, and it is the Election Commission’s duty—under the Representation of the People Acts, 1950 and 1951—to ensure electoral rolls are current and inclusive.
“Residents in Wagholi have already suffered from civic neglect for over a decade. Now, denying them the right to vote would be a grave injustice,” Mishra added. He also pointed out that since the election dates, ward structures, and reservations have not yet been finalized for PMC, the decision to freeze the voter list as of July 1 appears premature and arbitrary.
WACO’s key demands include:
Preparation of an updated and supplementary electoral roll.
Inclusion of all eligible voters registered after 1st July 2025.
Guaranteeing that no eligible voter is denied their voting rights.
Mishra stated that WACO will explore legal options if necessary. “If required, we will not hesitate to approach the Hon’ble High Court to protect the fundamental rights of citizens,” he said.
The organization has called for immediate intervention from the Election Commission to prevent a potential violation of democratic principles.
