Business Standard

Voters allege anomalies in electoral rolls

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
A large number of people in several areas of the capital today complained that they were unable to exercise their franchise in Delhi polls as their names were missing from electoral rolls despite having valid voter ID cards.

Several enthusiastic voters, who had turned up at the polling booths with their voter ID Cards and other documents to establish identity, had to return home infuriated and dejected as they were not allowed to cast their ballot.

Residents of constituencies of East and North East districts felt "harassed" as they had to run from one registration desk to another at different polling booths in search of their names.
 

A DTC bus driver, Liyaquat Ali (55) and his wife Amna Begum (50) from Krishna Nagar were disappointed at not being able to cast their vote. They spent more than three hours searching their names since they reached the polling station at 8.40 AM.

"We have been living here since 1970 and have voted several times in the past. Now they are telling me that our names are not there in the electoral list and we cannot vote. This is disgusting," he said.

Residents of Muslim-dominated areas like Brajpuri and Khureji Khas in Krishna Nagar constituency were annoyed and had heated arguments with poll duty officials for not being allowed to vote.

"Even residents, who have been living here for the last four decades and have voted before, are not being allowed to vote. This is a conspiracy," Mustaqeem Hussain said.

Same issues were faced by residents of Gandhi Nagar, Kondli, Patparganj and Trilokpuri.

Mohammed Salim, 50, a resident of Trilokpuri cited this as the glaring example of carelessness in the registration process.

"It's is a glaring instance of carelessness. I have eleven members in my family eligible for voting, but none of us can exercise our right. This is intolerable. First, the government doesn't stand up to your expectations, then they do not allow you to vote. It's ridiculous," he said.

Asanand Kapoor (84), a resident of Shahadara, was visibly upset as he said, "My entire family has cast their ballot, but I, who is the head of the family...My name is missing from the list. I am an old man and have come all the way to vote. This is not fair," Kapoor said.

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First Published: Dec 04 2013 | 6:02 PM IST

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