228 new voters in Mukhai told to report 70 km away at Ghodegaon for document verification

Notices have been issued for document verification to 228 villagers of Mukhai in Shirur taluka who recently registered as voters. The notices ask all of them to appear at Ghodegaon in Ambegaon taluka on Monday, November 2. Ghodegaon is a full 70 km from Mukhai, and resentment has spread in the village.

The villagers have objected that Ambegaon taluka does not fall within their jurisdiction and that Ghodegaon is very far from the village, making travel inconvenient. Mukhai is a village in Shirur taluka, so going to Shirur to show the documents would be much more convenient, they say.

The villagers have taken the matter directly to the District Collector and the Election Commission. They have sent a complaint by email demanding that a verification camp be held in Mukhai itself. With so many new voters in the village, the camp should be held there, they say. They have also made it clear that if this is not done, they directly object to and protest against the notices.

The complaint to the District Collector and the Election Commission was made by Sarpanch Ramesh Palande, former sarpanch Atul Dhumal, Sanyogita Palande and Sachin Palande.

Sub-divisional officer Archana Tambe said the administration's stand is always that new voters or ordinary citizens should not be put to hardship. She said the tahsildar would be given appropriate instructions on how the documents of the large number of voters in Mukhai could be checked at a convenient place, as far as possible, and that the tahsildar would take a suitable decision accordingly.

Ambegaon tahsildar Rahul Sarang said the administration is making efforts so that the 228 new voters of Mukhai are not inconvenienced. The authorities are exploring whether, if possible, a document verification camp can be held in Mukhai village itself.

Ambegaon naib tahsildar Sachin Wagh said the complaints of the Mukhai villagers have reached the administration. He said a suitable decision would be taken after discussion with sub-divisional officer Archana Tambe and the tahsildar. The administration has no intention of troubling anyone. Wagh also said the documents are being verified as part of the voter registration process, and in this case too the verification would be completed after taking a suitable decision.