Political parties in Goa have raised serious concerns about alleged intimidation and coercive tactics by Booth Level Officers during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision drive for voter lists. The Congress and Goa Forward Party have formally complained to Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Goel about the behavior of some election officials.
Parties Detail Multiple Violations
During a review meeting chaired by CEO Sanjay Goel, State Congress president Amit Patkar highlighted several critical issues affecting the voter revision process. Duplicate voter entries and cases of multiple voters registered at the same address were among the primary concerns raised by the party.
Party representatives presented evidence that some BLOs are contacting voters at their workplaces and insisting on immediate submission of forms despite the official December 4 deadline. This approach has caused significant inconvenience and anxiety among voters.
Unreasonable Demands Creating Panic
Goa Forward Party general secretary Durgadas Kamat provided detailed accounts of the problematic practices. BLOs are requesting difficult-to-obtain information such as EPIC numbers of parents and booth and part numbers from the 2002 electoral rolls.
"In several cases, booth and part numbers have changed over the years, leaving voters unable to locate the historical information quickly," Kamat explained. "To try and complete their tasks, BLOs are creating panic among voters by falsely claiming it's the last day for submission."
The GFP leader revealed that the pressure stems from unrealistic targets assigned to BLOs, who are expected to cover 100-150 homes daily. This demanding schedule appears to be driving the rushed and sometimes coercive behavior.
CEO Assures Immediate Action
Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Goel responded promptly to the complaints, assuring that instructions will be issued directing BLOs not to coerce voters. The CEO's office acknowledged the gravity of the situation and committed to ensuring a fair and transparent voter revision process.
Meanwhile, official data reveals the scale of the challenge facing election authorities in Goa. The CEO's office confirmed that approximately 2.1 lakh voters in Goa remain unmapped in the electoral system, highlighting the importance of an effective and voter-friendly revision drive.
The situation has drawn attention to the need for better training and more realistic expectations from BLOs, who play a crucial role in maintaining accurate voter lists ahead of important elections.
