Pune: PMC Final Voter Roll Sparks Fresh Row as Over 92,000 Electors Shifted Across Wards

Pune, 17th December 2025: The publication of the final electoral roll for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has triggered renewed controversy, with official data revealing that more than 92,000 voters have been relocated from their original wards to different constituencies, raising serious concerns over the accuracy of the voter database ahead of civic elections.

The revised voter list was released by the State Election Commission (SEC) following an extensive objection and verification process prompted by widespread errors in the draft roll. However, instead of settling concerns, the final figures have intensified political and public scrutiny.

High Volume of Objections Flags Systemic Issues

According to election officials, the draft roll prompted an unprecedented 22,809 objections from citizens, while the civic administration, acting on SEC instructions, independently flagged 45,403 additional discrepancies. After scrutiny, authorities accepted 47,073 objections, while 18,150 were rejected.

Despite the corrections, data in the final roll confirms that 92,000-plus voters have been reassigned to different wards, a scale of movement that opposition parties argue could significantly alter electoral dynamics in multiple constituencies.

Earlier verification exercises had already exposed structural flaws in the voter list. Of Pune’s 35.51 lakh registered voters, as many as 3.44 lakh were found to have duplicate entries. Additionally, 10 of the city’s 41 wards now have voter populations exceeding one lakh, highlighting sharp imbalances in ward-wise elector distribution.

Election observers note that such disparities could affect representation and administrative efficiency during polling.

The controversy has acquired a political edge, with opposition parties reiterating allegations that voters believed to be unfavourable to the ruling establishment were intentionally shifted across wards during the revision process. While election authorities have denied any wrongdoing, the scale of the transfers has kept suspicions alive.

Tensions escalated further as the final roll was released a day after the Model Code of Conduct came into effect, limiting the scope for administrative corrections and intensifying political reactions.

With municipal elections approaching, political parties have demanded greater transparency, accountability, and corrective safeguards to prevent voter disenfranchisement. Civic activists have also urged authorities to ensure that voters are clearly informed of their ward allocations to avoid confusion on polling day.