Lok Sabha Election: Missing Names and Confusion Plague Pune’s Electoral Process

Pune, 13th May 2024: Numerous eligible voters faced disenfranchisement in Pune as missing names in the electoral roll, changes in polling booths, and inadequate distribution of voter slips marred the electoral process in the parliamentary constituencies that went to poll on Monday.

Despite the administration’s claim of covering 83% of electors with voter slips, the Pune parliamentary constituency recorded a turnout of just 51.2% till midnight. Similarly, Shirur and Maval constituencies witnessed a turnout of 51.46% and 52.9%, respectively, by midnight, accompanied by complaints of missing names in the voters’ lists.

Rachana Agrawal and her husband, Rajesh, long-standing residents of Kalyani Nagar, were dismayed when their names vanished from the voter list at the Nagarwala school, where they had voted for over three decades.

Advocate Amit Bhowmik, expressing frustration over the ordeal, stated, “I have been living in Kalyani Nagar for the last 30 years. I’ve voted in previous elections, but now my name is missing. It’s all a great mess, boss. No one seems to care at all. Even my son’s friend, who came all the way from Bangalore just to cast his vote, is in the same predicament. I am 77 years old and may not be around for the next elections! I asked our local corporator, but he said there’s nothing he can do. It seems one name from every family is missing. It’s total confusion.”

Similar sentiments were echoed by Anil Lal from Vishrantwadi, who found his name missing from all voter lists at the MGM School booth under Constituency 208 of Wadgaon Sheri. “This is intriguing and seems to be shrouded in foul play,” he added.

Pradip Kapur, a resident of Vimannagar, lamented the absence of his and his wife’s names in the voters’ list, despite having voter ID cards issued in 1994 and a history of voting in numerous elections.

Residents from Camp, Wanowrie, Kondhwa, Vishrantwadi, Mundhwa, and Hadapsar also encountered similar issues, exacerbating the frustration among voters.

Prashant Jagtap, NCP (SCP) city president, alleged that approximately 60,000 names in the Hadapsar assembly constituency had vanished from the electoral rolls. Meanwhile, BJP leader Jagdish Mulik acknowledged the presence of volunteers to assist voters but admitted that some had to return home without casting their votes.

Responding to the outcry, the Pune administration claimed to have updated the voter list eleven times since 2019, asserting due diligence in their efforts.