TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: A former legislator from Cumbharjua constituency, Nirmala Sawant on Tuesday pointed out that increasing bogus voters in the constituency are likely to affect the outcome of the forthcoming assembly polls.
Addressing media persons, Sawant said that almost 1500 bogus names from Cumbharjua constituency are being enrolled in the electoral roll, which might play a crucial roll during election.
“These voters can change entire political scenario in the constituency,” she said targeting Assistant Area Officer (AAO) Vishant Gavnekar for alleged inclusion of names.
Sawant, who will be contesting as independent candidate from the constituency said that most of the names are of migrants, who have become major vote bank for legislators here.
Pointing to the transfer forms filled by these locals, she said that most of these forms do not have proper identification nor residential proof.
“I had raised the issue before AAO and Chief Electoral Officer, who failed to give satisfactory answer on the issue,” she said adding ‘I will personally try to meet Chief Election Commissioner Dr S Y Quraishi, on his visit to
Giving series of examples of inclusion of bogus voters in the roll, Sawant pointed to two houses in Old Goa and Dhulaper where almost 70-odd names are included from one house each. Further she claimed that these houses have people living in them with varied surnames such as D’Souza, Naik,
“This sounds very interesting. I don’t know whether these are fake names or not, but it’s the duty of AAO and election officers to verify it,” Sawant said adding “surprisingly, they are not allowing my daughter-in-law to register here due to lack of transfer documents.”
“I will be contesting as independent but have got support from several political parties,” Sawant informed reporters.
When asked, Sawant said she is not interested in contesting on any political party ticket. “When I am getting support of four parties why should I need one party ticket?” she questioned.
Sawant, former power minister, had resigned as a chief of Goa Pradesh congress committee in 2002 when the party lost assembly election under her leadership. Sawant subsequently had resigned from the party and remained independent. She contested 2007 elections as independent candidate from Cumbharjua constituency but lost to incumbent Pandurang Madkaikar.