Madhya Pradesh’s Chief Electoral Officer Saleena Singh
Madhya Pradesh’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) ) Saleena Singh has informed the Election Commission (EC) that over 5,500 dead voters and 1,900 multiple entries were found in the voters list of Kolaras Assembly constituency, where bye-polls were held on February 24.
In a letter to the Election Commission, Saleena Singh held the district collector and district electoral officer responsible for the lapse.
Saleena revealed that there were 1,918 multiple entries and 5,537 dead voters in the voters list during the bye-election in Kolaras in Shivpuri district.
Raising fingers at the officials including booth level officers and the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), Saleena Singh alleged that they did not pay attention to it. She also blamed the district electoral officer (DEO) for not doing proper monitoring.
“ If the collector and the DEO had continuously reviewed the voters list, especially before the bye-polls, then such a large number of dead voters would have not been included,” she said in her letter.
The letter further added that there has to be a review of the voters list by the collector and the DEO, which appears to have not been done in this case.
A copy of the SEO’s letter was received by anti-corruption activist Ajay Dubey in response to his RTI application.
Demanding action from the poll body against the Shivpuri collector, Dubey said, “We will approach the EC for speedy action on the issue to ensure fair elections.”
Congress’ Mahendra Yadav defeated BJP’s Devendra Jain in the bye-elections, result of which were declared on February 28.
