Nagpur: Following the Lok Sabha elections in Nagpur, the local BJP unit, led by City President Bunty Kukde, is contemplating moving the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court against the district administration over missing names in the voters list and concerns over a significantly low polling percentage.
The polling percentage in Nagpur stood at just 54.32%, prompting BJP leaders, including former Mayor Pravin Datke, to raise questions regarding the omission of names from the voters’ list and other issues.
Today’s Rate
Saturday 23 Nov. 2024
Key points:
BJP leaders, particularly Pravin Datke, who was overseeing the campaign for party nominee Nitin Gadkari, have initiated plans to seek clarification from the district administration. They are holding the Collector responsible for the subpar polling percentage.
Poll analysts attribute the low turnout to various factors, primarily the exclusion of thousands of voters from the electoral list. Many voters were dismayed to find that others had voted in their name at different polling booths. The scorching heat on polling day discouraged many voters from participating in the electoral process. Technical issues with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) caused delays in polling at several locations, prompting some voters to return home due to the high temperature.
Pravin Datke expressed dissatisfaction over the disappearance of names from the voter list despite their presence in the list declared by the Collector in January. He cited the example of his sister’s name being missing despite possessing a valid voter ID card.
‘Conspiracy’:
Describing the low polling percentage as a ‘conspiracy’, Kukde said that over 2 lakh names were deleted from the list provided to them by the Collector’s office in January. “In most booths, at least 50 names were missing, and these were regular voters. Near my home, at booth numbers 145 to 148, over 100 names were deleted. We have learned that names starting with ‘M’ and ‘P’ series are missing from the list. The Collector’s office informed us that these names were not on the list since 2021, when the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Government was in power,” he alleged.
The BJP unit in Nagpur is compiling data to support their claims and intends to approach the Collectorate to seek clarification on the missing names from the voter list. They are considering legal action against the district administration, alleging negligence and conspiracy behind the low polling percentage.
The dissatisfaction among BJP leaders in Nagpur over the low polling percentage reflects concerns regarding electoral integrity and the administration’s handling of voter registration processes. The situation highlights the need for thorough investigation and remedial measures to address discrepancies in the electoral process and restore public trust in the democratic system.
