284 voters found ineligible for inclusion in final electoral roll in Dakshina Kannada

As many as 284 voters have so far been found ineligible for inclusion in the final electoral roll of the eight Assembly constituencies in Dakshina Kannada. The final roll is scheduled to be published on October 27.

According to statistics provided by the office of the District Electoral Officer, following the completion of hearings so far, a total of 14.96 lakh voters have been cleared for inclusion in the final electoral roll. As many as 284 voters were found ineligible for inclusion in the final roll.

Of the 284 persons, 89 were found to be deceased and 189 were removed due to double entries. As many as 13 had shifted from the place of residence mentioned in the electoral roll, while nine had moved out of the country. Four persons failed to submit the documents sought by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).

An official overseeing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) said the names of deceased persons were removed after verification of death certificates. Cases of double entries and shifted voters were acted upon after verification of the electoral rolls. The EROs and Assistant EROs were examining documents related to 21,000 voters.

The official said Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of political parties are authorised to file up to 10 Form-7 applications a day objecting to the inclusion of voters in the final roll. A total of 19 Forms-7 and 8 (for corrections in the electoral roll) were filed by September 23, the last date for filing claims and objections, and only these applications were examined. “The ERO is empowered to take legal action under the Representation of the People Act if he or she finds mala fide intent on the part of a BLA in submitting objections,” the official said.

Meanwhile, a group of Congress workers led by District Congress Minority Cell president Shahul Hameed submitted a memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner K. Raju on Monday, seeking criminal action against BJP office-bearers for allegedly filing Form-7 applications in bulk for the deletion of Muslim and other minority names. When asked by reporters about the number of Forms submitted in bulk, Mr. Hameed said the information had to be provided by the District Electoral Officer. He claimed that following the agitation led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Bengaluru, BJP workers were visiting the offices of EROs to withdraw their applications, fearing penal action.

Another group of Congress workers submitted a memorandum in Sullia on Monday seeking action against two BLAs who had reportedly filed Form-7 applications seeking deletion of 21 Muslim names in the Sullia Assembly constituency.