MARGAO: Taking serious note of allegations raised by the Congress and concerned citizens regarding bogus voters in Seraulim and Azad Nagri, Margao, the South Goa district administration has stepped up its on-site verification process.
Detailed reports from the concerned mamlatdars are expected by early next week. Preliminary findings suggest discrepancies in the electoral rolls may have occurred twice — once in 2012 and again in 2017.
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According to Srinet Kothwale, Additional Collector-I, verification at Seraulim has already been completed, while checks at Azad Nagri were carried out on Saturday. “At the preliminary stage, discrepancies appear to have occurred twice — in 2012 and 2017. However, this still needs to be established with evidence,” Kothwale clarified.
He further said that strict instructions had been issued to the mamlatdars to examine the full history of the concerned voters and cross-check details on the Election Commission’s website to verify whether the same names are registered in other States.
The controversy reignited after the Margao Block Congress Committee accused the Election Commission of serious irregularities in the voter list for Part No 15 of the Margao constituency, particularly in Azad Nagar. Convenor Savio Coutinho highlighted what he called an ‘inexplicable growth’ in voter numbers.
“Azad Nagar is a compact locality of barely 3,500 square metres with about 120–150 houses. Yet, the electoral roll shows more than 280 house numbers and 868 registered voters. Where have these 280 houses come from? Who has issued these house numbers?” Coutinho asked.
He stressed that Azad Nagar is hemmed in by a wall on three sides and the railway station on the fourth, leaving no scope for unaccounted expansion. He alleged that gross manipulation of electoral rolls had been carried out to influence outcomes.
“This is just the beginning,” he warned, adding that further irregularities across the Margao constituency would soon be exposed as part of Congress’ verification drive.
In a separate development, former Seraulim sarpanch Joaquim Dias alleged that nearly 100 voters were registered on premises functioning as bars and restaurants. He demanded an inquiry into the matter, cancellation of such ‘illegal migrant voters’, and action against the Booth Level Officer of Part No. 11 in the Benaulim Assembly constituency.
Dias, supported by Adv Radharao Gracias, pointed out that the premises belong to Camilo Dourado, father of Seraulim Deputy Sarpanch Leslie Dourado — a detail that has added a political twist to the controversy.
With allegations of ‘vote chori’ snowballing across Goa, the district administration’s pending reports are now keenly awaited. Their findings will determine whether Congress’ claims of bogus voter enrolment hold weight and could potentially shape the discourse ahead of the next elections.
