Nagaland Congress Flags 38,000 Untraced Voters; Demands Immediate Electoral Roll Review
The Congress party claims over 38,000 voters are untraced across five Nagaland districts, sparking demands for an electoral roll review.
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has raised a red flag over significant discrepancies in the state's electoral rolls, alleging that tens of thousands of voters have gone missing or been incorrectly deleted. Pranav Shagotra, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Observer for Nagaland, revealed that 38,234 voters were identified as either deleted or untraced across five specific districts.
The Breakdown of Missing Voters
Speaking at a press conference organized by the NPCC’s Communication Department at Congress Bhavan in Kohima, Shagotra detailed the findings from a nationwide exercise conducted by the Congress party to scrutinize voter lists. The discrepancies were found in the following districts:
- Zunheboto: 11,530 untraced voters (out of 1,04,277 electors)
- Tuensang: 9,032 untraced voters (out of 80,400 electors)
- Mokokchung: 7,900 untraced voters (out of 1,56,302 electors)
- Wokha: 6,547 untraced voters (out of 1,88,018 electors)
- Longleng: 3,225 untraced voters (out of 24,024 electors)
Shagotra emphasized that such inaccuracies are not merely administrative errors but could fundamentally alter election outcomes, particularly in constituencies where the margin of victory is slim.
Allegations of Collusion and Systemic Failure
The AICC Observer did not mince words in his critique of the electoral machinery. He accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of coordinating with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for the Commissioner's removal and the establishment of a new Election Commission of India to guarantee free and fair polls.
Aligning with Rahul Gandhi’s broader campaign against voter list irregularities, Shagotra highlighted several critical issues:
- The denial of access to electronic voter lists.
- The prevalence of duplicate registrations.
- Deceased individuals remaining on the rolls.
- Living citizens being erroneously marked as dead.
To combat these issues, the Congress has deployed approximately 208 observers across India. Shagotra plans to visit his assigned districts to further verify these gaps and compile a comprehensive report for the party's central leadership.
The Bigger Picture in Nagaland
Adding to the controversy, NPCC President and Lok Sabha MP S. Supongmeren Jamir pointed to a massive gap in the overall state data. He noted a difference of 1,57,752 between Nagaland’s total electorate (13,57,208) and the enumeration forms received by the Election Department (11,99,456).
Jamir explained that this discrepancy likely stems from a mix of untraceable voters, those who have permanently shifted, deceased persons, and duplicate entries. While the Election Commission has reportedly assured the party that there was no intentional manipulation, Jamir stated that the final findings have yet to be provided.
What Happens Next?
According to Jamir, the Election Department is currently reviewing the discrepancies. A new round of house-to-house verification is expected to take place to rectify the rolls, with Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from various political parties participating to ensure transparency.
On a national scale, the Congress party is preparing to escalate its protest. A major rally is scheduled for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, where Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge will address the crowd and outline the next phase of their campaign against electoral irregularities.