EC trashes DMK’s plea on bogus voters

Rajesh Lakhoni, Chief Electoral Officer, in his submission to the MHC, said wherever dereliction of duty is found, swift action is taken and on an inspection at Madurapakkam village in Kanchipuram district, charges have been framed and showcause notice have been issued to four officers including the Tambaram RDO Farida Banu and Thasildar A Katrhikeyan for dereliction of duty. 

The counter also thrashed the main contention of the DMK that the Electorate and Population (EP) ratio was skewed revealing bogus inclusions. Lakhoni submitted that as per the census, the EP ratio for projected population works out to be 72 per cent and not 65.31 per cent as claimed. 

This, he said implied that there were many left over voters and due to proactive measures taken, the EP ratio which was 65.31 per cent in 2011 has increased and comparing the increase with growth rate is not correct as this increase not only accommodates the new voters who have turned 18, but also the left over voters, which was significant to the extent of five per cent. 

The DMK had contended that the total number of electorate in 2011 was 4.71 crore. Therefore, total number of eligible voters as on January 1, 2016 should be 5.21 crore (4.71 crore + 50.56 lakh). But the EC has published an electoral list on January 20 putting the voters’ population at 5.79 crore.