Kohima, November 2 (MExN): The Kohima District Congress Committee (KDCC) voiced out strong objections to the present Summary Revision of E-Roll as ordered for completion with 10 days from November 1.
A press release from the KDCC stated that it was “disheartened” to observed that the draft electoral roll for Municipal/Town Councils as brought forth by Kohima District Administration in respect of the 19 Wards in Kohima “appears to be that of the latest E-Roll Summary Revisions made for Assembly Elections”.
The KDCC opined that the E-Roll for the urban local bodies(ULBs) “should be done from 2004 till date with sufficient time” granted to the Electoral Registration Officer so that all eligible electorates will be able to register in the democratic exercise.
In this, KDCC requested the State Government and the Department concern to implement the Municipal Guidelines “in letter and spirit” and immediately order complete revision of the E-Roll for all the wards and colonies under the Municipal and Town Councils.
As per “The Nagaland Municipal Election Rules, 2003” Summary Revision of E-Roll for Municipal and Town Councils should be separately prepared for each ward of the Municipality in accordance with the rules, the KDCC insisted.
If the E-Roll for Assembly Election is to be followed, almost half of the electorates for ULBs will not get opportunity to exercise their franchise as the last Municipal Election in the State was held in 2004 with the creation of separate E-Roll, the Kohima Congress argued.
With urbanization, thousands of electorates are migrating into the town areas, it observed and pointed out that the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) order of “One Man One Vote” would result in thousands not having registration in the E-Rolls in Town areas despite being residents of colonies and wards because of maintaining their names in the E-Rolls of their respective villages.
The KDCC cautioned that it would be left with no option but to knock the doors of court for legal action if its appeal “is not pursued in all earnestness”.
