The Hindu : Kerala / Pathanamthitta News : Many names missing from voters' list

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 12, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Pathanamthitta

Many names missing from voters' list

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA, MAY 11. Deletion of names from the electoral rolls, in the name of `pruning' have allegedly resulted in denying voting right to a large number of eligible voters in Pathanamthitta district.

Many voters who reached polling booths on Monday could not cast their votes as the `latest' electoral roll did not carry their names for none of their faults.

Swami Gangadhara Theertha of Kulathoormoozhi Kailas Ashram in Kallooppara Assembly segment of the Mavelikkara Lok Sabha constituency was one of the senior citizens in the locality who could not vote despite he being in possession of a voter identity card.

Names of nearly 100 voters in the Vaipur area of the Kottangal grama panchayat were found to be deleted from the `latest' voters' list, it was alleged.

According to authorities here, the `pruning ' of the electoral roll was done with a view to check `bogus' voting.

Though the idea was to remove the names of the deceased and those who have already shifted their place of residence from the constituency, the alleged official negligence in carrying out the job in a foolproof manner had ultimately resulted in the deletion of names of many eligible voters. The swami, who had even contested the Assembly elections from Kallooppara in 1987, said he had already sent a letter to the Election Commission and State Election Officer, seeking explanation for denying his voting right. The Swami said he would move court.

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