Vajpayee taken off Lucknow city electoral rolls

The name of ailing BJP patriarch and former Prime Minister Atal Vajpayee was struck off from the electoral rolls for the forthcoming Lucknow municipal polls in November with no protests from the BJP.

Vajpayee wasa registered with serial number 1054 in the voters’ list of Babu Benarsi Das ward. The Bharat Ratna last cast his vote in Lok Sabha polls in 2004, when he was in good health, and in municipal polls in 2000.

State Election Commission authorities claimed that his name was removed from the revised list as he hadn’t participated in the polling process for more than the past decade.

Municipal authorities claimed that the former Prime Minister was not living at his residence, 92/98-1 Bansmandi, which is registered in municipal records for decades now. His residence now houses the Kisan Sangh office.

“Voters’ list is revised before every polls and his name is being struck off due to this reason,” said a municipal officer.

BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadu Pathak said that they would request municipal authorities to incorporate his name in the list as he still has the right to vote.

Vajpayee had gradually retired from active politics after 2004 Lok Sabha polls. He fell seriously ill and is now confined to bed. The Bharat Ratna was bestowed upon him while he was bed-ridden at his Delhi residence.

ROLL CALL

• State EC said former PM’s name was removed as he hadn’t participated in polls for over 10 yrs
   
• Civic authorities said he hadn’t been living at his registered address in city for decades now