NIZAMABAD/ADILABAD/KARIMNAGAR: Scores of voters, across districts, have come out complaining that their names were missing in the electoral rolls. Ironically, those affected included a senior IPS officer, the convenor of an NGO creating voting awareness and many others.
Numerous such instances have raised questions about the preparedness of the poll panel in conducting elections. In Nizamabad district, many denizens went forward to register complaints with the control room at the district collector’s office. BJP leader and contesting candidate Yendala Laxminarayana held an agitation over the issue.
The names of S Siddaiah, the district convenor of the NGO Election Watch, and his family members were also missing. He blamed it on the poor preparedness of the poll panel.
Similar situation prevailed across the 10 constituencies in Adilabad, hundreds claimed their names were missing from the list. Many of the dejected voters blocked the road in front of the collector’s office. In Adilabad constituency alone, names of more than 10,000 voters were missing, claimed a polling official. Even some government officials were left behind.
The most tragic was the case of a retired teacher Md. Latif in Karimnagar. He claims to have been voting in elections since 1952. But this time, his name was missing from the list. At polling stations 149-152 names of many women were missing. Several of them had to return without casting their ballot. At St’ Alphones school (station 147) EVMs stopped working for about half hour. Many voters had to return without casting their vote. As a result, the polling percentage in the district remained low till 3 pm.