The Hindu Business Line : AP: Oppn gets tough on inflation of electoral rolls

WITH the issue of `bogus votes' snowballing into a major controversy ahead of the ensuing elections to the State Assembly, the Opposition parties have joined hands to launch a campaign against the inflation of the electoral rolls by the ruling Telugu Desam Party.

Addressing a joint press conference here today, the leaders of Congress, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Communist Party of India (CPI), Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) today alleged that the ruling party resorted to large-scale irregularities across the State to `jack up' the electoral rolls.

"The fact that the Election Commission officials weeded out a whopping 10 lakh applications from 25 lakh applications shows the enormity of the problem," Mr D. Srinivas, President of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), said.

"The democratic process has been hit very hard, keeping aside all Constitutional norms," he said.

He demanded that Election Commission take necessary measures to rectify the irregularities. "We appeal to thoroughly verify the fresh applications, seeking enrolment, and the deletions by holding gram sabhas giving necessary publicity," the Congress leader said.

Mr B.V. Raghavulu, Secretary of CPI (M), said the caretaker Government's reaction to the allegations of inflated rolls was irresponsible and undemocratic. "The Government deliberately resorted to the bogus induction of voters with a selfish motive," he alleged.

Mr Nayini Narasimha Reddy, General Secretary of TRS, felt that every effort should be made to protect the interests of genuine voters. "The whole episode proves that the ruling party could stoop down to any extent to remain in power," he said.

The Opposition parties also wanted the Election Commission to rope in `larger and impartial machinery" to ensure elimination of bogus votes.

They also asked the Commission to issue photo identity cards to about 1.42 crore people, who were left out of the process.

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