Ranchi Municipal Polls: Voters' List Errors Demand Rectification Before Feb 23 Election

Ranchi:A delegation of the ‘Astitva Akhil Bharatiya Bangla Bhashi Samanvay Parishad’ on Thursday submitted a memorandum to state election commission (SEC) secretary Radheshyam Prasad, demanding immediate rectification in the voters’ lists for the February 23 municipal polls in the state.

The delegation alleged that voters of multiple wards found their names registered in wards different from their actual place of residence, denying them the right to elect their ward councillor.

“The foundation of democracy rests on the voter’s right. If a citizen is prevented from voting in his or her residential ward, it is not merely an administrative lapse but a serious violation of democratic rights,” said Abhijit Dutta Gupta, central president of the parishad.

Uttam Banerjee, a resident who was part of the delegation, claimed, “My residence falls under ward 10, but my name is listed under ward 18. The same happened with my wife and my 28-year-old son. How can we vote for a councillor who does not represent our locality?”

The parishad members sought immediate revision of ward-wise voters’ lists based on official delimitation, transfer of wrongly placed names to the correct wards, and public release of clear ward boundary maps.

They also urged authorities to ensure all corrections are completed before polling; failing which, the election process should be postponed til errors are rectified.

“We received the representation regarding alleged discrepancies in the voters’ list. The list is being referred back to the deputy commissioner (DC) for verification as the electoral roll is prepared at the district level under the chairmanship of the DC,” Prasad said.

“The voters’ list was notified around three months prior to the announcement of the municipal elections and preparations were carried out at the district level accordingly,” Prasad said.