[Resolved]  Election Commision — Demand for Cancellation of Assembly Election in Maharashtra

This refers Assembly elections 2009 held today in Maharashtra.

Thousands and Lakhs of People have found their names missing from the Voters List despite submission of form-6. Many discrepancies were noticed in the lsit about shifting of names, dividing families in different booths, change of polling booth, missing of names from one part, change in part and serial number and different lists with different booths etc. All these discrepancies and difficulties have forced many voters to give up the idea of casting vote or lake of enthusiasm to go to the changed and far-flung place of booth to exercise their franchise. Many First-timers were disappointed not finding their names despite submitting Form-6 time and again. To specify a case, My Son Nipun had submitted his form-6 three times. Once, I myself went to submit directly to the Tehsildar and submitted the form with all necessary documents. Also furnished names with Part & Sr. No. of mine to accomodate and locate his number easily but sadly he did not get his name in the list this time again. (He did not find during Lok Sabha also). Interestingly, on one hand your good office as well as NGOs like ours are tried hard to motivate voters to exercise their voting right. Secondly, over 75% voters are claimed to be below 40 years of age and 50% of that to be below the age of 25 and first timers. Please check how many new voters with the age bracket of 18-20 have been enrolled by your deptt. Sadly, the figures are negligible while so many new voters had submitted their forms.

Is it not smelling foul and conspiracy to avoid new voters by the exisiting politicians?
What is the use of such elections when every eligible voters is not allowed to be a part of election system?
What is the use of such inefficient system and insufficient voting when lakhs (may be over 40% of total electorates) of eligible electorates are deprived of voting due to discrepancies or missing of their names from the voting list?

To sympathize these electorate/elegible citizens, and in protest of discrepancies and missing of names of lakhs of eligible voters from the list, I have casted my neutral vote under rule 49-'O' at Booth No. 151 of Panvel Constituency No. 188. To my dismay, I found lot of resistance of my doing so as the Presiding Officer was not having any form for casting neutral vote. Moreover, I found the booth being managed more by the polling agent of a political party who termed my vote as wastage of vot and their time. This demeans people's plight of not being able to cast their vote and my support to them was discouraged by your staff and agents. I appreciate the readiness of Tehsildar Mr. Mane to note my complaint and instructed staff to accept my submission albeit with great hesitationby the subordinates who were not ready to acknowledge with stamp. Finally, My complaints is lodged and will wait for the positive outcome.

But in view of the facts of discrepancies and errors in voting list as well as missing of crores of names (if you actually calculate people deprived, absentees and proxy/bogus voting then hardly 25-30% people's verdict would come from these election. Assuming a winner getting more than half of total votes polled even then that counts only 15%. is it fair and true representation of Govt?

In view of this, I in may capacity as President of Hope India Foundations, an NGO, hereby demand Your good offices for cancellation of election in the State until the discrepancies are completely resolved and names of all eligible voters are included.

Your early action in this regard will be highly appreciated. Please do not count on number of grievances being lodged in this regard as 99% people do not bother or attempt to lodge complaints for reasons of beurocratics system, lack of time, lack of enthusiasm, ignorance and discouragement by many factors. Kindly treat my complaint on behalf of all such aggrieved and deprived citizens of the State and request for your positive action in the interest of the people and democracy.

Thanks for reading this,
For Hope India Foundations,
General Secretary,
Tel:[protected] /[protected]