Release of Mumbai voter list may be delayed

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, January 19

The release of voter’s list for Mumbai, scheduled for January 31, may be delayed by a few days following allegations of a large number of bogus voters.

Officials from the Collector's offices at Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban have indicated that work on weeding out names of bogus, duplicate and deceased voters is in progress.

Sources said around one lakh names had been removed from the list in both districts and more would be deleted in the coming days. However, it was not clear whether the exercise would be completed before the January 31 deadline.

Data put out by Eklavya, an NGO, indicated that nine lakh names among 1.07 crore voters in the two districts could be bogus.

Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam had earlier this week compiled copies of voters’ names and photographs in several Lok Sabha constituencies that indicated extensive duplication.

Nirupam alleged in Magathane Lok Sabha constituency, one voter was registered under 11 names with 11 separate addresses. Only the photograph of the voter was common to all names, he alleged. The former MP from North Mumbai had come up with several such instances.