For a period of time, concerns have risen over the presence of a fraudulent voting program in Andhra Pradesh, casting a shadow over the integrity of the electoral process. One striking example was highlighted by Eenadu, where an astonishing 700 votes were attributed to a single family in the Kurnool district.
Adding to this alarming situation, recent reports have emerged indicating that genuine votes from ordinary citizens are being systematically deleted from the voters’ list. Uravakonda witnessed the removal of approximately 6000 votes belonging to supporters of the TDP party, sparking outrage. The situation led to the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) attention, prompting proactive measures.
Understanding the seriousness of the problem, the CEC has asked the state Election Commission to take action against two district-level officials. These officials are suspected to have been part of the vote selection and removal process. These officials are thought to have been involved in selecting and removing the votes in question.
The incident initially came to the attention of the CEC through a complaint lodged by Payyavula Keshav in 2022. Subsequent investigations, prompted by Keshav’s persistence, have culminated in this significant step towards justice. The two regional officers responsible for overseeing the removal of votes are now set to face legal consequences for their actions.