JD(S) alleges large-scale duplication of voter names in Bidar Assembly constituency
Alleging widespread irregularities in the electoral roll of the Bidar Assembly constituency, Janata Dal (Secular) leader and Naranja Sahakari Sakkare Karkhane Ltd. chairman Suryakanth Nagamarapalli
Alleging widespread irregularities in the electoral roll of the Bidar Assembly constituency, Janata Dal (Secular) leader and Naranja Sahakari Sakkare Karkhane Ltd. chairman Suryakanth Nagamarapalli on Tuesday claimed that thousands of voters have been enrolled more than once and urged the Election Commission to undertake immediate corrective measures. Addressing a press conference in Bidar, Mr. Nagamarapalli said a field-level verification carried out by him and JD(S) workers over the past several days had revealed that around 21,000 voters in the constituency had their names entered at two different places.
He alleged that the actual number of duplicate entries could exceed 40,000. He said the party had compiled documentary evidence and submitted a formal complaint to the Election Commission as well as the district administration, seeking removal of duplicate and ineligible entries from the electoral rolls. Nagamarapalli also alleged that certain political leaders and officials were responsible for allowing such large-scale duplication. Claiming that the existing voters’ list contained names of persons from neighbouring countries, other States and even students studying in nursing colleges in Bidar, Mr. Nagamarapalli alleged that many such ineligible persons had exercised their franchise.
“If electoral rolls are not purified, free and fair elections cannot be ensured. Such irregularities only help corrupt candidates win elections,” he said. Welcoming the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, he said the exercise should be used to eliminate all duplicate and ineligible entries. He likened a clean electoral roll to the purity of food, water and air, describing it as the backbone of democracy. Nagamarapalli also alleged that details of deceased were being recorded without proper field verification during the revision process.
He urged the Election Commission to make Aadhaar linkage, biometric authentication and facial recognition mandatory for voter registration and verification, saying these measures would help prepare an accurate and transparent electoral roll. He added that the issue had also been brought to the notice of the Central Election Commission, which had responded positively. JD(S) district president Ramesh Patil Solpur, general secretary Ashok Kodage, and party leaders Shantalinga Savalagi, Raju Kadyal, Basavaraj Patil, Lalita Karanji, Davood, Siddappa and others were present.
The BriefWire