The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Persons with two votes make merry

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Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Persons with two votes make merry

M. Malleswara Rao

Erase ink-mark on their fingers to vote again in a village of neighbouring State

They indulge in this malpractice lured by gifts offered by candidates
Double entries are in existence owing to lack of effort by poll officials

HYDERABAD: Persons with two votes remain an unresolved enigma to election officials at a number of border villages in the State during these elections too.

The citizens of these villages have their names figuring in the electoral rolls of Andhra Pradesh and also in the neighbouring State — be it Maharashtra or Orissa.

Official negligence

The double entries have been in existence for the past few years due to lack of a concerted effort by poll officials.

Citizens at 12 villages of Karemeri mandal of Adilabad district bordering Maharashtra have been enlisted as voters in the neighbouring State also, besides in their villages. The villages are Parandoli, Kota, Anthapur, Visapur, Bolapatar, Gowri, Arkepalli, Anarapalli, Karangiwada, Jankapur, Lakampur and Paraswada.

Boundary dispute

Both States claimed these villages as their own following a boundary dispute between them.

Rather happy at this, the people took the benefits under welfare schemes of both States, and enrolled themselves as voters of Andhra Pradesh as well as Maharashtra.

Ten out of 12 villages have sarpanches of A.P. and two of Maharashtra.

A case relating to the boundary dispute is pending disposal by the Supreme Court.

Now, voters of these villages, numbering about 5,000, can cast their vote in either of the State.

If they want, they can also exercise the franchise in both States, provided they are able to erase the indelible ink-mark put on their fingers once vote is cast at one place.

Techniques perfected

It appears that they have developed techniques to erase the mark so as to vote in both States lured by gifts offered by contestants.

There are an estimated 50 villages or thandas in Vizianagaram district lying on the borders of Orissa and 18 in Srikakulam district.

Mistake-free

All these pose a challenge to the officials who claim that the electoral rolls are mistake-free.

They are yet to contact the respective district Collectors to find a solution to the double entries.

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