MARGAO: Around 27,000 Goans are set to lose their voting rights, as the government officials, who have been appointed as Block Level Officers (BLOs), have commenced the sanitisation of the electoral rolls.
Following the Election Commission’s order, the Block Level Officers have been asked to filter the voters roll and submit a report by October 15.
The Election Code of Conduct will come into force by December-end or in January. The District administration has pulled up its socks for the D-day. South Goa Collector Swapnil Naik has been regularly hosting the meeting of mamlatdars and deputy collectors. The block development officers, panchayat secretaries and others have been asked to submit the new roll soon. The BLOs have been asked to survey all the houses and to get updated information of the voters.
There are several constituencies, wherein the number of voters has increased in the form of new voters and newly married women. Besides the names of several voters, who have expired, have to be removed from the list.
Following EC order, the removal of non-Indian domiciles or the ones who have surrendered their passports for obtaining foreign citizenship will also be covered under the process.
One BLO has been appointed for each polling booth, Collector Swapnil Naik said adding that there are 840 BLOs appointed for the job and have been asked to submit the entire data report by October 15.
When questioned on the process of removing Portuguese Citizens from the voters list, the Collector said, “The process of compiling a list of the Portuguese citizens or any persons, who have surrendered their Indian Passport is regular.”
