Bhubaneswar: The opposition BJD has sought clarification from Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) over alleged dual voter registration in villages along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, claiming that some residents of Koraput and Malkangiri districts have their names on the electoral rolls of both states.
The issue was raised by the BJD at an all-party meeting held at the CEO’s office recently, party senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said on Wednesday.
“We have sought clarification from the Odisha CEO regarding the dual voter registration of some people living in Koraput and Malkangiri districts. How can these people have their names on the electoral rolls of two states even after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?” Mishra asked.
He said the matter came to light during the rural elections in Andhra Pradesh on November 5, when several residents of the Kotia region under Pottangi block in Koraput district reportedly cast their votes in the neighbouring state.
Similarly, many residents of Jumdang village in Chitrakonda block of Malkangiri district allegedly possess voter ID cards issued by both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, he said.
Pointing out that the law does not permit an individual to be registered as a voter in two different constituencies or places, either within the state or outside it, Mishra said the BJD had urged the CEO to seek details from the Andhra Pradesh government.
“We have asked the CEO to obtain information from the Andhra Pradesh government on how many voters from Odisha had cast their votes in the state’s elections,” he said.
The BJD leader also questioned why duplicate or ineligible voter registrations had not been removed from the electoral rolls in Andhra Pradesh despite the alleged violations of electoral rules.
Meanwhile, BJD general secretary Bijay Nayak criticised the BJP-led state government over the issue and raised questions about the increase in the number of voters.
Nayak said the final electoral roll published on September 21 contained 3.16 crore voters.
“However, at a meeting between election officials and representatives of all political parties on November 8, it was revealed that the number of voters had increased by three lakh. Such a significant increase within such a short period raises serious questions,” he said.
