Team Goemkarponn
PORVORIM: Socorro Panchayat member Gauri Volvoikar has demanded the immediate suspension of the concerned Booth Level Officer (BLO) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) and called for a detailed inquiry into the alleged irregular re-enrolment of Congress worker Anil Pednekar in the electoral roll of Socorro village.
Addressing a press conference, Volvoikar alleged that Pednekar’s name had earlier been deleted from the electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise after authorities found that he was not residing at the address under which he was registered in Socorro.
According to Volvoikar, Pednekar was previously enrolled as a voter in Part No. 7 of Socorro village under the Porvorim Assembly constituency. During verification conducted as part of the SIR process, the concerned BLO reportedly found that Pednekar was residing at Models Legacy, Caranzalem, Taleigao, which falls outside the jurisdiction of Socorro village and the Porvorim constituency.
Based on this verification, his name was removed from the electoral roll. However, Volvoikar alleged that Pednekar subsequently submitted a fresh application seeking inclusion in the electoral roll of Socorro village, this time under Part No. 5, claiming residence in rented accommodation supported by an affidavit from Suhasini Gurudas Naik.
She said the application was processed and approved by the concerned BLO, AERO and Assistant Returning Officer (ARO), resulting in Pednekar’s re-enrolment in Part No. 5 at Serial No. 223.
Questioning the process, Volvoikar claimed that the verification section of the application allegedly did not mention the date and place of verification and failed to specify the duration of Pednekar’s stay at the claimed address.
She raised doubts about whether a proper field verification had been conducted before the application was approved and argued that the case raises serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral roll.
Volvoikar questioned how a voter whose name was deleted after verification found him residing outside the constituency could subsequently be re-entered into the same village electoral roll under a different part number.
She sought clarification on what fresh verification was carried out, what documentary evidence was accepted to establish residence in Socorro, and on what basis the findings recorded during the SIR process were reversed.
“The people of Socorro deserve complete transparency in this matter. If official verification established that the individual was residing outside the Porvorim constituency, the authorities must explain what changed thereafter and what evidence justified his re-entry into the electoral roll,” she said.
Demanding accountability, Volvoikar called for the immediate suspension of the officials involved pending an independent inquiry. She maintained that the sanctity of electoral rolls is fundamental to democracy and that any irregularity or procedural lapse that undermines public confidence in the electoral process must be thoroughly investigated.
She also urged election authorities to place all relevant records in the public domain and conduct a fair and transparent inquiry to establish the facts and ensure accountability.
