The Hindu : More questions about bogus voters

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

More questions about bogus voters

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad Dec. 22. Will the verification of lakhs of applications in each district be possible within a week by two or three officials deputed by the Election Commission ?

There were more questions than answers regarding the bogus names suspected among the 1.21 crore residual voters out of the 5.49 crore total electorate in the State and among the 51.69 lakh applications registered for fresh enrolment under the present summary revision. The eight officials drafted for the work, of whom six arrived in the State on Monday, will have to verify a total of 1.72 crore names.

Asked how they would go about the job at a press conference here this morning, K. J. Rao, the Commission's Consultant, and Anand Kumar, its Principal Secretary, said the verification of details from such a large number of applications was possible by a methodology based on certain random samples. They, however, refused to divulge the methodology saying "it is a top trade secret".

If these 1.72 crore names are also enrolled, the State's electorate will touch a high of 80 per cent, a ridiculous situation ? Under any summary revision in the State, there will be 2 per cent increase in the voters' strength. If all the 51.69 applications received in the State under the present summary revision are to result in enrolment, the increase will be about 8 per cent.

Asked when Assembly elections would be held in the State, Mr Rao and Mr Anand Kumar said "only God knows".

Mr Rao goes to Guntur district tomorrow where "large registration of bogus names" was alleged.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Transfers against norms, say EC officials

FCI agrees to relax procurement norms