NCP bats for scrapping of ‘service voters’

SHILLONG, DEC 22: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today demanded scrapping of service voters, mostly coming from Nepal.

“We have suggested that service voters should be scrapped,” NCP general secretary S Thapa told media persons after a meeting convened by the chief election commissioner AK Jyoti held here on Friday.

According to him, this was in view that there are these training centres belonging to the GTC, Assam Regiment and Assam Rifles where most of the people are recruited are from outside the state.

“Especially in the GTC, most of the recruits are from Nepal and these people are coming for the training out here and in the process they have been asked to get service voters identity card so that they are entitled to vote here. However, coming from a different country how can they get the right to vote out here,” Thapa said.

Informing that there are over 500 people who are registered as service voters according to information received by the party, the NCP general secretary said, “But they are not posted here in Shillong, they have been posted in other parts of the country and the postal ballot have been sent to them but how do we know that particular ballot paper is sent to that particular voters when there is no system to keep track on this.”

Asked, Thapa said that the Election Commission has assured to look into the matter and are going to be intouch with the party through the state chief electoral officer.

By Our Reporter