BMC Election 2017 | Missing names on voter lists were a minor issue, says JS Saharia

Political parties have been crying foul over the issue of missing voters in the civic polls conducted on Tuesday, with the Aam Aadmi Party even seeking a re-election because of the fiasco, which reportedly affected over 11 lakh voters. But the chief of the Maharashtra State Election Commission, JS Saharia, played down the gravity of the matter. In an interview with Kanchan Srivastava on Wednesday, Saharia sought to prove that his office has pressed the right buttons, which a record jump in voter turnout makes evident. Excerpts:

On the mess-up regarding voter lists, which reportedly left 11 lakh people out of the democratic process

Our statistics say that over 50.9 lakh citizens out of the 92 lakh registered in our rolls voted this time. In contrast, only 44 lakh citizens out of 1.02 crore voters had used their franchise in 2012. Our extensive campaigns to encourage voters, especially the younger ones, after roping in universities, corporates, dabbawallas and auto drivers, and through social media, worked wonders. The missing names were a minor issue. There were complaints only in two or three wards out of 227. Most complaints pertained to a change of wards. This happened mainly in those societies that have gone in for reconstruction.

On reasons why people were dropped from voter lists despite residing in the same ward for years and casting votes in the previous polls

Let me make it clear, we don’t prepare the voter list. It is made by the Election Commission of India (ECI). All queries pertaining to errors must be directed to the ECI. We neither add nor delete a single name. We just convert the ECI’s voter list based on Assembly constituencies into ward-wise demarcations.

On the policy of a top-to-bottom approach while preparing voter rolls  

The ECI does it at the ground level only.

His estimate of missing names in the rolls

There could be just 400-500 names missing in Mumbai. I don’t have an estimate for Thane. I must say, Maharashtra has the best voter lists in India in terms of coverage and correctness.

On who is at fault for incorrect voter lists every elections

Everyone, including citizens. Updating voter rolls is a continuous process, in which voters attaining the age of 18 are added, names of dead people are removed and changes in address are made. We run campaigns for voter awareness, asking people to check their names on the rolls and reapply if their names are missing or addresses have changed. Before this election, too, campaigns were held in September-October. Over 21 lakh new names were registered in that period.

On the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena violating the model code of conduct and the commission being helpless

We are not helpless. Cases are being examined.

On money and liquor being used to lure voters

We have seized money and liquor whenever we have got information about the same. If people give and accept freebies secretly and everyone involved remains tight-lipped, we can’t do anything.

On the allegedly incorrect mention of criminal cases against candidates, displayed outside polling booths

There is a Supreme Court order that poll watchdogs are supposed to make voters aware about candidates’ educational and economic statuses, and criminal antecedents if any. This order aims to help voters make an informed choice. Apart from putting up their affidavits on our website, we used two new methods this time. One was to publish details of the candidates in the newspapers and the other was to put up banners outside every polling booth. Details were taken only from their affidavits. Still, we had given a disclaimer in the flex that voters must check the website to confirm the information.