NPCC officials along with other party workers during a meeting on “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” at District Bhavan, Tuensang on November 4.
Tuensang, November 4 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Wednesday organised a meeting on “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” at District Bhavan, Tuensang, calling upon party workers to remain vigilant and safeguard the voting rights of every eligible citizen amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The meeting was attended by Congress workers and office-bearers from Tuensang, Noklak and Longleng districts. Among those present were AICC Observer Puran Chand Padhi, NPCC Working President Apok Jamir, NPCC Vice-President W Akum, Chairman of the NPCC Media and Publicity Department Andrew Humtsoe, and Chairman of the NPCC Social Media and Digital Platform Kumjimong.
Addressing the gathering, Jamir said the “Vote Chori, Desh Bachao” campaign was being undertaken across the country to raise concerns over alleged irregularities in the electoral revision process. He said the AICC Observer had visited Nagaland as part of the party’s efforts to create awareness and address concerns surrounding the SIR exercise.
Claiming that nearly 50 per cent of votes had also been deleted in Delhi, Jamir expressed concern over the scale of alleged deletions and urged party workers to thoroughly recheck electoral rolls in their respective areas. He called upon them to take all possible steps to protect even a single genuine vote.
He also thanked Congress workers from Noklak and Longleng for travelling to Tuensang to attend the meeting and demonstrate their commitment to the campaign.
In his address, Padhi expressed concern over the functioning of the SIR, alleging that the process had become increasingly centralised. He said Booth Level Officers (BLOs) previously exercised greater authority at the grassroots level, while decision-making powers under the present arrangement had, according to him, become concentrated at the central level.
He further alleged that the SIR exercise was being used to delete the names of voters who did not support the BJP, raising concerns over the impartiality and transparency of the electoral revision process.
Emphasising the importance of voting rights in a democracy, Padhi said the vote was the greatest strength of an ordinary citizen and that depriving people of this right amounted to suppressing their voice.
He urged Congress workers to reach every nook and corner of their respective constituencies, carefully verify electoral rolls and identify genuine voters whose names might have been deleted. No eligible voter should be left out, he said, stressing that every genuine vote must be protected.
The meeting concluded with a call for vigilance, grassroots coordination and collective efforts to safeguard the democratic rights of every eligible citizen under the “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” campaign.
