Bhubaneswar, Oct 27 (PTI) Odisha CEO on Tuesday said none of the 3,041 voters from Bhadrak’s Dhamnagar area, whose names were in question, were deleted from the final electoral roll.
The clarification came in response to a social media post by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who alleged irregularities in the electoral roll revision process
“As more skeletons tumble out of the Election Commission’s cupboard, exposing Vote Chori, Modi-Shah are trying hard to suppress the people’s movement! Why are they protecting CEC Gyanesh Kumar? This diversionary tactic and bogus propaganda is only discrediting Modi Govt, and tarnishing our Democracy! INDIA shall continue our democratic struggle to protect every citizen’s vote and our Constitution!” Kharge wrote on X.
In the post, Kharge also alleged that over 3,000 applications seeking deletion of names had been submitted in Dhamnagar and that booth-level officers (BLOs) had flagged alleged misuse.
Responding to the allegations, the chief electoral officer said, “Claims of electoral malpractice must be judged against verified facts. In Dhamnagar, Odisha, the concerned AERO was suspended following an inquiry, and importantly, none of the 3,041 voters in question was deleted from the final electoral rolls.”
A Form 7 application does not automatically result in the deletion of a voter’s name, the CEO said, adding that every application was subject to verification and due process under the law.
“Accountability and procedural safeguards matter. Political allegations cannot replace facts,” the CEO said.
Opposition parties in the state had earlier alleged that people belonging to minority communities in Dhamnagar Notified Area Council (NAC) were “deliberately” deleted from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
In connection with the matter, a complaint was also lodged earlier at Dhamnagar police station by BLOs engaged in the verification process.
The complaint alleged that the executive officer-cum-assistant electoral registration officer (AERO) of Dhamnagar NAC had misused his position and engaged in irregularities. PTI BBM BBM MNB
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