Whither My Vote?: Utter confusion, angst mark insipid polling in GHMC Elections 2020

Hyderabad : As ill luck would have it, many names missing in voters list were found in many poll-bound wards in the election to GGMC on Tuesday. Senior Telangana Congress leader Mallu Ravi was also among the voters whose names went missing from the voters list.

Several voters complained to the authorities their names were missing from the voters list. They said that their names were mentioned in the voters list online on the official State Election Commission website, but the same were missing in the official list possessed by the polling officers at polling booths.

More than 600 voter names went missing in the voters list in some polling booths in Jiyaguda division. Voters arrived at the booth with voter slips and they were not permitted to cast the vote as their names were found missing in the list. Irate voters staged a dharna in front of the polling booth demanding to permit them to exercise their franchise. The polling officer clarified they had no powers to allow them to vote without their names in the list. The police intervention defused the tension at the polling booth and the agitating voters were made to vacate the place.

At Musapet division, voters from Janata Nagar Colony also expressed anger over missing of their names in the list. They alleged that their names were deleted as they were against the TRS government. Most of the voters of the missing names participated in the dharna at CM camp office at Pragati Bhavan recently. They said the ruling party developed a grudge against them and deleted their names.

The election authorities also received numerous complaints from the voters from the Old City. In LB Nagar, Uppal, Malkajigiri and Secunderabad assembly segments, complaints of missing voters were reported.

A few polling stations witnessed a bit confusion in areas that include Alwal, Old Bowenpally, Qutubullapur and Secunderabad circle. At a few polling stations, the voter names were missing in the electoral rolls and but were found at the other polling stations. Scores of voters faced hardships to go to the other polling station which was far from there localities. Add to it, names of many deceased were also found in the voter lists.

"When I went to designated polling station this morning, I found that my name was missing from the voter list. Being a resident of Ward-132 I cast my vote at the same polling station for past seven years but this time my name went missing. After enquiries I came to know that my name appeared in ward-130 but that was 8km far from my locality," said an angry S Mamatha, a resident of Jeedimetla

"I was taken aback when only my name was missing from the list and those of all my family members were present. I was forced to wander from one polling station to another in my ward but I did not find my name in the list. Later I came to know that my name appeared in other division. How is it possible when I am a resident of 130 ward, my name could appear in other ward?" asked T Anil, a resident of Subash Nagar.

Several voters in Old City returned without casting their vote and were asked to bring voter slips issued by the Election Commission. In various divisions such as Dabeerpura, Azampura, Chawni, Rein Bazar, Falaknuma, Kanchanbagh, Santosh Nagar, Kishanbagh, voters who arrived with Aadhaar card and Voter ID cards were asked to bring voter slips.

Mohammed Ilyaz, a resident of Chawni, said "My family of 7 members did not receive voter slips from the authorities and when we went to cast vote carrying Aadhaar card, we asked to returned with voter slips. If the authorities have not issued the slips, how can a voter cast vote?" he asked in a frustration.

There are several such cases observed this election. Although, almost 60 per cent of the voters did not receive the voter slips in the Old City, and even voters came out to vote were seen being sent back on one pretext or other. "Along with my son, I came to cast the vote, carrying a slip, but was not allowed to vote.

The officers deployed at the booths were asking for Aadhaar cards," said Shaker Baig, a septuagenarian from Dabeerpura. He said, "At every polling booth, the guidelines of carrying documents are different. Only voter slip is required, or in case of no slip a voter could vote with an Aadhaar card. Why are there different procedures?" he asked.

According to the officer at the polling station, to cast a vote, a voter slip along with an identity proof, especially Aadhaar card, is must to enter the booth.