CPM against revision and deletions in rolls

Shimla, Dec 2 (UNI) The CPM today took exception to revision and deletions in the electoral rolls after the process of filing of nominations began on November 23, saying the continuing exercise was against the rules of the Election Commission (EC).

''The process of deleting and revising of electoral rolls comes to end after the process of biling of nominations begins for the polls,'' party state secretariat member Tikender Singh Panwar said at a press conference here.

He said Shimla's Returning Officer (RO) was still receiving objections and deleting names of the voters from the electoral rolls against rules of the EC.

Unless the process was brought to a standstill immediately, the party would approach the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and the EC, Mr Panwar said.

Accusing the RO of ''targeting and excluding'' students from the rolls, he said even the EC's guidelines on these were clear and the election officers could not delete the names of voters from the rolls, last published in June.

The CPM leader said the election officials were deleting the names of the voters, registered at two places, from the urban list, without seeking their views as to from where they would like to vote. ''This again is a violation of the rules,'' he added.

Earlier, addressing the joint conference, Himachal Vikas Party (HVP) president Desh Raj also called upon the electorate of Shimla constituency to vote for CPM leader Sanjay Chauhan, saying he would would strive to improve the town's basic infrastructure on being elected.

UNI