J.P. Savio Coutinho, Convener of the Margao Block Congress Committee, on Thursday met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence and submitted a detailed representation alleging large-scale voter deletions in Goa during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025-26.
Coutinho handed over 16 spiral-bound annexures containing documents and evidence related to the alleged deletion of 1,39,634 voters from the electoral rolls in the state. A similar set of documents was also submitted at the office of Rahul Gandhi.
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Briefing Kharge, Coutinho alleged that the Special Intensive Revision process was misused to target traditional Congress supporters and non-BJP voters in Goa.
According to the representation submitted to the Congress leadership, around 1,39,634 names were deleted from the voters’ list. Coutinho claimed that even if 50 per cent of the deleted names were genuine voters, it would amount to nearly 1,750 voters per constituency, which could significantly influence election outcomes in Goa’s smaller constituencies.
He also alleged that fabricated FIRs were filed against him for exposing irregularities involving Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). Coutinho stated that an RTI reply obtained from the Goa State Central Library disproved the allegations made against him.
The Congress leader further alleged that BJP Booth Level Agents (BLAs) filed bulk objections against voters without conducting field verification. He claimed that one BLA later withdrew the objections in writing, stating that the forms had been filled by an MLA’s staff.
Coutinho also raised concerns regarding difficulties faced by voters attempting to restore their names to the electoral rolls. He alleged that genuine applicants were being asked to submit lease agreements, despite such documents not being mandatory under Election Commission of India guidelines.
Among the demands placed before the All India Congress Committee (AICC) were urgent intervention with the Election Commission of India for a fresh Summary Revision in Goa before December 2026, legal assistance from the AICC Legal Department for filing a writ petition seeking re-inclusion of deleted voters, and the deputation of an AICC team to Goa to activate all 40 Block Committees for booth-level voter restoration efforts.
According to Coutinho, Kharge reviewed the documents and annexures submitted to him and assured that the Congress party would fight to protect the voting rights of Goans.
