95,000 ‘Flagged’ but Valid: Nagpur Civic Polls to Proceed with 24.83 Lakh Voter List Despite Duplicate Fears

NAGPUR, Maharashtra — A significant cloud of uncertainty has formed over the electoral roll for the upcoming Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections, with nearly 95,000 voter identifications flagged for potential duplication.

However, in a move that prioritizes statutory procedure over immediate rectification, the NMC administration confirmed on Tuesday that the final voter count of 24.83 lakh will remain unchanged. Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari clarified that while verification is ongoing, the civic body lacks the authority to unilaterally delete names from the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) approved list.

Here is the status report on the voter list controversy and the logistical roadmap for the January polls.

The Numbers: A Massive Electoral Roll

The final ward-wise voter list, published Tuesday, cements the electorate for the civic polls at 24,83,112.

• Breakdown: 12.26 lakh men, 12.56 lakh women, and 256 voters classified as ‘others’.

• The Anomaly: Approximately 95,000 voter IDs have been flagged for “suspected duplicate entries.” This statistic suggests that nearly 47,500 individuals may possess double voting cards, raising concerns about the potential for bogus voting.

The Official Stance: “Hands Tied”

Despite the red flags, the NMC has declared that the roll is final.

Why no deletions? According to Commissioner Chaudhari, the verification process is routine and parallel to election preparations but does not grant the NMC power to alter the list.

• Jurisdiction: The authority to correct or delete voter IDs lies solely with revenue officials under the Election Commission of India (ECI). The NMC merely adopts the Assembly constituency rolls as they stood on July 1, 2025.

• Process: Flagged entries are subject to photo matching and metadata analysis. However, names can only be blocked or deleted after “due verification and consent” from the voters themselves, per ECI norms. There is no provision for a blanket deletion based on suspicion alone.

The Logistics: 18,000 Personnel Deployed

With the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in force since December 15, the administration has shifted into execution mode for the elections scheduled for January.

Operational Scale: To manage the massive electorate across 10 zones and 38 municipal wards, the administration is deploying a workforce of nearly 18,000 officers and employees. These are drawn from various government departments, PSUs, schools, and the police force.

Polling Infrastructure:

• Stations: Approximately 3,167 polling stations are being set up, pending final on-ground verification.

• Technology: The administration has requested a 10% reserve of EVM control units, estimating a requirement of nearly 10,000 ballot units (approx. 3 per station).

The Oversight: Monitoring the Code

To ensure fair play amidst the voter list concerns, the NMC has activated a rigorous surveillance grid.

• Flying Squads (FSTs) & Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs): Deployed to enforce the Model Code of Conduct.

• Complaint Redressal: A dedicated control center has been established. Citizens can report violations via toll-free number 1800-233-3764.

As Nagpur gears up for the polls, the focus remains on whether the “flagged” 95,000 IDs will impact the integrity of the vote, or if the administrative safeguards will be enough to prevent electoral malpractice.