Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday criticised the Election Commission over a report alleging that eligible voters in Goa were left out of the final electoral roll despite efforts by election officials to restore their names.
Reacting to a post by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on X, Tharoor described the matter as “extremely serious” and alleged that it involved depriving Indian citizens of their constitutional rights as well as withholding access to essential humanitarian benefits.
Concerns Raised Over Voter Exclusions in Goa
A report by the Indian Express has highlighted a troubling issue in Goa, where 97 eligible voters were reportedly omitted from the final electoral roll. These individuals, identified by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), had their names excluded before the electoral roll was published. In response, Goa Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Goel reached out to the Election Commission eight times within a week, seeking a mechanism to reverse these deletions.
Shashi Tharoor has voiced strong concerns about the implications of these exclusions, stating that the situation extends beyond just voting rights. He emphasized that many affected individuals rely on government-linked services, and the loss of their voter status could jeopardize access to essential humanitarian benefits, such as dialysis treatments and organ transplants.
Tharoor characterized the actions as “political chicanery,” calling the conduct “inhumane” and “unconscionable.” He demanded an apology from the Election Commission, stating that resignation should be a minimal response to the crisis. He insisted that it is crucial to rescind the flawed software responsible for this issue and to rectify the damage done.
The report also noted that four objections regarding the electoral process were raised on the same day, involving issues related to changes in Form 6, the centralization of the ERONet system, and appeals concerning voter deletions.
