SHILLONG: Nongthymmai MDC Latiplang Kharkongor (KHNAM) has questioned the enrolment of Army personnel in the State electoral roll.
Perturbed over this development, Kharkongor led a delegation of Madanriting Dorbar Shnong to meet Additional District Magistrate, DM Wahlang, and voiced their opposition to the enrolment of Army personnel, during a hearing held at Madanriting on Tuesday.
“The Army personnel have come to serve in the State for a brief period. Therefore, there is no justification to enroll them in the State electoral roll since they are temporary residents of the State,” Kharkongor told newsmen after his meeting with Wahlang.
The MDC alleged that besides Army personnel, people with dubious antecedents have been enrolling themselves in the electoral roll.
“We have evidence to prove that these people are not residents of Madanriting. Majority of them do not have any valid documents,” Kharkongor claimed.
The MDC also pointed out that many Nepalese from Nepal serving in the Gorkha Training Centre have tried to get themselves enrolled.
“How can the election commission entertain them?” Kharkongor questioned.
Meanwhile, the Rangbah Shnong of Madanriting locality, David Kharkongor, expressed concern that the State Election Department was considering birth certificates for enrolment into the electoral roll.
The Rangbah Shnong claimed that acceptance of birth certificates will only encourage non-indigenous people to get enrolled into the electoral rolls.
“The Election department should accept documents issued by the Dorbar Shnong,” the headman said. When contacted, State Chief Election Officer Prashant Naik said that he was yet to receive any information about this development.
“I would look into this matter once I receive the report,” Naik said.
