HYDERABAD: With booth‑level officers (BLOs) refusing to take back filled enumeration forms, last‑minute voters panicked and struggled to reach poll staff to submit their forms. Scores gave up after calling the BLOs on their phones on Sunday. Even MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi alerted the Election Commission of India that within GHMC limits, BLOs, citing Bonalu and Rangam on Saturday and Sunday, failed to accept forms despite the last date being August 10.
Agha Ali Sultan, a techie from Noorkhan Bazar under Charminar constituency, said he tried to contact the local BLO hoping to hand over the form, but in vain. “I have been trying to call the BLO since this morning, but he is not picking up my call. I am anxious about the acceptance of the forms, as only
a day is remaining,” said Ali.
Similar was the situation in other constituencies. A businessman from Doodhbowli area, Md. Shakeel, under Yakutpura constituency, also remained worried as two forms of his family could not be submitted.
Even in districts, there were instances where BLOs were reluctant to accept the forms. In some cases, even if the BLO collected the forms, they failed to provide any acknowledgement to voters. In their desperate attempts, voters avoided annoying the BLOs as time was running out.
A few hoped that the deadline would be extended further. “Sir, two more days should be extended in lieu of Bonalu holidays,” said M.A. Malik, a food technologist.
In a few places in Hyderabad, under pressure from higher‑ups, BLOs urged voters who failed to provide proper information to furnish all required details in the columns so that digitisation could be completed. “Even though they are not accepting the forms, as a last‑ditch effort to show maximum
digitisation, BLOs are calling voters urging them to fill maximum information,” said BRS Khairatabad BLA J. Raju.
By Sunday, 2,64,30,494 (78.14 per cent) digitisation was achieved, with Hyderabad crossing 58 per cent. Asaduddin, urging the Election Commission and the DEO (District Election Officer), stated that people were panicking about the forms.
“Wanted to bring this to your urgent notice that since yesterday we have received too many complaints from people at our SIR Guidance Desk that BLOs have clearly told them that they won’t be taking enumeration forms on 9th (Bonalu) and 10th (Rangam – public holiday).
Many people were seen panicking at the Desk. Kindly look into this, sir, because as per EC people do have time till August 10, on which these BLOs are not willing to work citing holidays,” he posted on X, tagging the authorities.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
