Over 60,000 names deleted in Erode

By R. Sundaram

ERODE, MAY 11. More than 60,000 names of genuine electors in the Erode constituency were deleted from the voter list by officials and the Election Commission is responsible, Mr. N. K. K. Periyasamy, DMK candidate and Handlooms Minister, said today.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr. Periyasamy said that some months ago several people were included in the voter list.

The inclusion was very high and so the Commission arranged for a cent per cent verification. In the process, more than 60,000 voters were removed from the list.

The Minister said the officials, during their visits, deleted names if the door was locked, without bothering to enquire whether the particular voter was residing at the house there or not.

After removing the names of those who had shifted residence, the election officials sent letters, mentioning only the name of the voter and the place, and failed to mention the door number or pin code. So most of the letters were not delivered.

The Minister said opposing the mass deletion, he had on January 1, 2001 written to the Chief Electoral Officer. But he had not received any reply from him.

If the EC removed the names of genuine voters, exercising 21-A Election Commission rules, why bogus voters had not been arrested, he asked.

Yesterday genuine voters could not exercise their democratic rights. This is `` calculated, deeprooted conspiracy of the Election Commission'' he said.

The removal of over 60,000 voters affected all the political parties, he said. He would again make a representation to the CEO and also to the Chief Minister.

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Section  : State Elections
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