Officials concerned over missing names of voters

By Saptarshi Bhattacharya

CHENNAI, MAY 9. As the month-long election-related work climaxes on the poll day tomorrow, one issue that would cause a great deal of concern for the officials is missing names from the electoral rolls.

Complaints of more missing names were reported from the Assembly constituencies in the city and outskirts, as partymen were delivering voters' slips door-to-door. Even residents who voted earlier and had not shifted their residence, have been left out in some places.

Villivakkam topped the list in deletion of names from the rolls. Compared to 1999, the constituency actually recorded a negative growth in the number of voters after the special summary revision last year which continued in the current year. A total of 1.47 lakh voters were added and 1.97 lakh deleted in the process of verification.

Residents in certain parts of Alandur constituency, Ram Nagar in Nanganallur for example, too faced similar problems. Many of them who voted during the last elections were left out even though they had not shifted residence.

Similar complaints were heard during videographing of voters for issue of online photo identity cards too. The residents crowded the designated photography locations to lodge complaints regarding missing names.

Denying any case of ``bulk deletions'', the officials said the 14 Assembly constituencies in the city had recorded a voters' growth of over three per cent. ``The question of largescale deletion does not arise as there has been an increase in the electorate,'' one official said.

They shifted the blame on the voters themselves for missing names, if any. ``Several opportunities were given to them to re- verify and re-include their names. Even the last dates for inclusion of names were extended many times.''

Certain political parties with vested interests were launching false propaganda. This, however, would not effect the polling procedure by any means. ``Whatever complaints are received on the poll day will be received and acted upon later,'' they added.

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