THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO: A large number of people from MES Colony which fall under Part 27 of Ward 18 in Vasco began agitating on Monday, after they realized that about 140 names had been deleted from the electoral list.
The people alleged they had not received any information about the deletion of their names and many insisted that the names deleted were those voters working in the defence forces as civilian employees. Many even showed their voter cards to prove that they were bona fide voters of the area.
Speaking to The Goan, a furious resident Umesh Sonurlekar said there were around 1,200 voters registered in the voter list during the 2017 assembly polls.
“It was only on Friday that the people realized that around 140 voters names were deleted. People who had even voted in 2017 are not there in the list,” said Sonurlekar.
“We contacted the BLO and he said since the voting was below 50% in 2017, the names were deleted. The Mamlatdar has not sent us a notice nor did the BLO conduct any survey to check if we live here.”
“We then went to the Returning Officer along with the councillor. But the returning officer bluntly told us that if our names are not in the role, we cannot vote. We have been deprived of our rights to vote because of the shoddy work by the BLO. The BLO has not come here at all and submitted wrong information to the Mamlatdar," said Sonurlekar.
Another resident Sharda Bikannavar said that she had been living in the area since birth and even had a valid voter's card, but said her name was missing from the list.
"Neither did we receive any intimation, nor did anyone come here to verify our names. While the Election Commission wants to ensure there is 100% voter turnout, people who religiously vote are deprived by the officers of the same institution," complained Bikkannavar.
When contacted, Ward Councillor Reema Sonurlekar alleged that the BLO had never undertaken a door-to-door survey before the names of voters were deleted from the electoral list.
"I have seen during the last few elections that the BLO is not doing his duty properly. He has not done a survey at all and around 140 voters names have been deleted. Surprisingly, people who are not here and transferred are on the list, while people living here since many years have been deleted from the list.”
“We met the Mamlatdar in the morning, but there is no action. These people have faithfully voted in every election. Who should we hold responsible for the loss of these 140 voters," she asked.
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INSET.
Names deleted only after due procedure: Mamlatdar
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THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO: Responding to an outrage among voters of MES Colony after about 140 names had been deleted from the electoral list, Mormugao Mamlatdar Satish Prabhu claimed that names were deleted from the voter list only after following due procedures.
"Anyone who is an absentee has to fill form 7 and we check whether the person is there or not. We issue notices and give them a date for hearing. If they don't arrive for hearing, it is presumed that they are not available at the residing place.”
“We still give them time and only after the procedures are done, the names are deleted. The aggrieved people had met the ARO on Monday and he has also told them the same thing, that the people were not present when the BLO had gone for verification and hence form 7 was filled and their names were deleted," said Prabhu.
