Missing names irk voters
Varun Gandhi and Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit called the election office to check whether their names existed in the voters list.
Varun Gandhi and Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit called the election office on Sunday to check whether their names existed in the voters list. They were lucky to find their names in the rolls. However, about 20 per cent of a whopping 23,000 callers so far have found their names missing.
The denial of the right to vote may upset citizens, but for some it was a chance for a three-day sojourn to hill stations. "I was angry when election office told me that my family was not enlisted. But then my wife told me that we can go to Nainital for a holiday. I agreed immediately," said Munirka resident Vikram Hari.
Others like Rajan Tiwari rather came out strongly. "I can't understand how my name got deleted. I had voted in the last Assembly elections in December. Only ruffians can vote, law-abiding citizens can't," he said.
Ramesh Dixit of Asiad Village cancelled his programme to attend a marriage in Gwalior to exercise franchise. "When I didn't get a voter's slip from party workers I called the election office. They told me that I can't cast my vote. I asked for reasons but they said my name will be added in the list only after elections," he added.
Balkan Bhartee of Saket was amused that he can't vote though has been the Capital's resident for the past 30 years. Somesh Kumar of the same locality says denial of voting rights shows how political activists can hoodwink the system. Dina Nath of Patparganj may lose the chance to vote for first time since 1970.
The VIPs are not affected by the common man's dilemma. Varun Gandhi will go with mother Maneka to cast his vote at Girls Polytechnic in Maharani Bagh while Dikshit will accompany Congress president Sonia Gandhi to College of Arts at Tilak Marg.
President APJ Abdul Kalam will be the first person to cast his vote at a booth at President House.