Missing names mars smooth polling in Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 29 (UNI) Despite the Election Commission's tall claims of having updated the list ''to the hilt'', large-scale missing name from voters' list marred smooth voting at several booths across the Capital in the first three hours of polling.

Disappointed people complained of their names missing from the voters' list despite having voter identity cards.

Most of such complainants said they had voted in the last General Elections, but were surprised to find their names missing this time.

One such complainant Prachi (27), a resident of East Patel Nagar and senior lecturer in a university, said she was disappointed as she had filled her form twice and yet could not find her name in the list.

''I got married this February and wanted my name to be enlisted in the voters' list. First, I went to the nearby school where names were being changed in June and filled the requisite form along with my husband. Surprisingly, when we went in October to get our names 'checked', as was being advertised by the Election Commission, we did not find our names,'' she added.

''However, we did not give up hope. On directions of the officer incharge, we went to Baljit Nagar, the local area headquarter where names were being finalised, and filled the forms again along with the photographs. But, once again it was of no avail,'' she said.

Officials at the booth also told the media that nearly one per cent of photos from the voters' list was missing and added this anomaly was not alraming as identification of those casting their votes were being verified well before being allowed to vote.

Another disappointed 57-year-old Radhey Shyam said it was really bad that this is happening.

''This does not give a good impression about the system and the government. Everyone does not come out to vote and if this sort of things keep happening, they would be further dissuaded to cast their ballots,'' he said.

UNI AN ATI RK1210