Dias demands probe, alleges migrant voters registered on fake house numbers
Adv Radharao Gracias speaks to the media on Monday.
MARGAO
In the midst of a country-wide debate on the enrolment of illegal voters on the electoral rolls, former Seraulim Sarpanch Joaquim Dias made a serious claim that around 100 voters are registered in the village on premises running bars and restaurants.
He has demanded an immediate inquiry into his claim, with a request to cancel the illegal migrant voters and take action against the Booth Level Officer of Part No. 11 of the Benaulim Assembly constituency.
Joaquim and Adv Radharao Gracias questioned how 100 voters could be registered on the electoral roll from premises styled as bars and restaurants. What has given a political twist to the episode is that the premises are owned by Camilo Dourado, the father of incumbent Seraulim Deputy Sarpanch Leslie Dourado.
Radharao told the media that around 80 voters are registered on the electoral roll from House No. 81/B, which plays host to a bar and restaurant. Another 20 voters are registered on the electoral roll from the second bar owned by the same owner.
He said information pertaining to house tax, obtained under the Right to Information Act from the Seraulim Panchayat, shows that except for House No. 81/B, all are allegedly fictitious house numbers. “These migrant voters hail from Bihar and other parts of the country. It is very clear that 100 voters are registered in the two house numbers owned by the Dourado family. The son of Camilo Dourado is Leslie, who is now the Deputy Sarpanch of Seraulim,” Radharao said.
Joaquim Dias said he had earlier complained about voters being added fraudulently to the voters’ list of Part No. 11 of 32 Benaulim constituency to the BDO, but there was no inquiry. “It is noticed that the old voters still continue to exist on the roll and now more voters are also added by the subsequent BLO, which is a blatant violation committed by the BDO,” he charged.
He added: “Voters are registered at business establishments, which include bars and restaurants in the village, by the BLO. The BLO has failed to check and verify the house numbers provided by the voters with the records of the village Panchayat, thereby registering voters on fake house numbers.”
Joaquim has demanded a thorough investigation and the deletion of the names of all illegal voters in the village registered on rented premises, fake house numbers and business premises to enable free and fair elections.
In a complaint to the District Collector, South, who is also the District Electoral Officer, Joaquim and other citizens have requested the authorities to check or insist on Aadhaar cards with the same address, else the voters may be asked to swear an affidavit stating that they are not registered anywhere else in the country.
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Deputy sarpanch denies migrant voter allegations
MARGAO: Even as election officials visited Seraulim as part of investigations into the claims of migrant voters registered at premises running as bars and restaurants, Seraulim Deputy Sarpanch Leslie Dourado has insisted that voters shown in the electoral roll are all residing in 32-odd rented rooms.
The election officials are believed to have inquired into the claims made by Joaquim Dias and others, and a report is expected to be submitted to the higher authorities on the issue.
Meanwhile, house owner Camilo Dourado’s son Leslie Dourado, who is the Seraulim Deputy Sarpanch, said a wrong impression has been created by the complainant that 100 voters have been registered on the electoral roll from the two premises running bars. “The fact remains that the voters are all tenants staying in the 32-odd rented rooms. They are residing in these rented rooms,” he added.
