Wagholi Residents Call for Inquiry into Voter ID Applications

The Wagholi Against Corruption and Oppression (WACO) Welfare Association has criticised what it terms as a systematic and discriminatory rejection of voter ID applications submitted by the residents of Wagholi.

- Dheeraj Bengrut

PUNE:

The association has alleged that in the past four to five months, the Election department at the Shirur Tahsil Office has rejected almost all Form 6 (new voter registration) and Form 8 (correction and transfer) applications if the applicants did not physically visit the office, located more than 50 km away, for in-person document verification.

WACO on Wednesday claimed that this process has led to the blanket rejection of applications from those unable to make the long journey to Shirur, including students, working professionals, senior citizens, and women. The association alleged that every application submitted without a personal visit, even when accompanied by valid supporting documents, was turned down without explanation.