PANAJI
The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Goa, has denied allegations of irregularities in voter enrolment in the 11-Panaji Assembly Constituency. The response follows videos shared by Elvis Gomes on social media, including a press briefing covered by a news channel and a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he flagged concerns about alleged mass transfers of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and irregular voter registrations.
Gomes, representing Citizens for Democracy Goa, had submitted complaints on May 12 and 27 to the CEO and the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging mass transfers of BLOs. In response, the CEO forwarded the matter to the North Goa District Collector for an action-taken report.
According to the interim report submitted by Collector Ankit Yadav, IAS, only 11 of the newly appointed BLOs have assumed charge. An inquiry under the Additional Collector-I, North Goa, has been initiated to assess whether the BLO appointments complied with ECI norms. Meanwhile, the implementation of the ERO’s order dated April 17, 2025, has been put on hold pending the outcome of the inquiry.
Regarding claims of non-residents and foreign nationals being added to the electoral roll, the CEO’s office reiterated its commitment to maintaining a clean and error-free roll. Citizens have been urged to report discrepancies by filing Form 7 for deletions. The office assured full compliance with ECI guidelines and encouraged public participation to ensure the accuracy of the rolls.
