Goa MP Slams ECI Over Voting Rights Notice Amidst Voter Purge Controversy

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Panaji, India - Congress MP Viriato Fernandes has expressed concerns over a notice from the Election Commission of India (ECI) asking him to prove his voting identity. Despite being a registered voter since 1989, Fernandes received the notice as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Fernandes, a former Navy officer who won the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency in 2024, claimed the notice was issued despite rigorous scrutiny by the ECI before clearing his name for the election. He wondered if a common man would face similar scrutiny, echoing concerns raised by opposition parties and NGOs about the SIR process potentially deleting legitimate voters. The notice directed Fernandes to appear before the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) on January 27 with necessary documents. According to the notice, Fernandes had not provided required details to establish his eligibility as a registered voter. In response to Fernandes' complaint, AERO Janavi Kalekar clarified that the enumeration form he filled did not contain mandatory details from the previous SIR, resulting in it being categorized as 'unmapped' and generating a hearing notice. The SIR exercise in Goa has removed 100,042 names from the draft roll, with 25,574 flagged as deceased, 72,471 as shifted or absent, and 1,997 as enrolled at multiple places. The state is set to go to the polls in early 2027. Fernandes' experience raises questions about the SIR process and its potential impact on voters' rights. The controversy highlights the need for transparency and accurate voter rolls to ensure a fair democratic process.