Published Oct 17, 2026 | 4:57 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 17, 2026 | 4:57 PM
Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls
Synopsis: Seeking an impartial and time-bound investigation to determine the deliberate attempt to manipulate electoral records, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai stated that failing which, he will be compelled to move the High Court of Bombay at Goa for a court-monitored investigation.
Goa Forward Party president and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai filed a complaint on Friday, 16 October, with Goa’s Chief Electoral Officer, alleging that voters from the Curtorim Assembly constituency were unlawfully shifted into the Fatorda electoral rolls, and demanded an urgent inquiry.
In the complaint, Sardesai said more than 50 electors who were part of the Curtorim segment during the 2012 and 2017 general elections appear in the Fatorda rolls for 2022 and 2026 (post-SIR). He alleged they were migrated while retaining their original house numbers, bypassing legal delimitation procedures. He described this as “merely the tip of the iceberg,” citing reports of similar enrollments from other constituencies into Fatorda.
Sardesai pointed out that Goa’s last delimitation was carried out between 2002 and 2005, with final orders published in 2005, and was consolidated in the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008. It became applicable from the 2012 elections.
Noting that electoral registration must conform to these notified boundaries and to the rules on an elector’s ordinary residence under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, Sardesai said, “This grave anomaly raises serious concerns regarding the integrity and accuracy of electoral databases, compliance with notified constituency boundaries, and gross non-adherence to procedures prescribed under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and relevant guidelines of the Election Commission of India.”
He has asked the Chief Electoral Officer to:
Emphasising that the alleged shifting of electors’ names is a matter for a proper investigation, the MLA said, “the objective of this complaint is to safeguard the integrity of electoral rolls, uphold the legally notified boundaries of Assembly Constituencies, and maintain public confidence in the democratic process.”
Seeking an impartial and time-bound investigation to determine the deliberate attempt to manipulate electoral records, Sardesai stated that failing which, he will be compelled to move the High Court of Bombay at Goa for a court-monitored investigation.
According to an Indian Express report, when contacted, Sanjay Goel, Chief Electoral Officer, Goa, said, “We will check the complaint and get an inquiry conducted through the DEO (district election officer). If a complaint has come… from any channel… an inquiry has to be done.”
Congress MP Pawan Khera, sharing the news wrote on X: “Election officials across India seem to want a medal for finishing last. Safeguarding electoral rolls is their job. They are paid to do it. Yet they are invariably the last ones to know when something is wrong.”
“Goa MLA Vijai Sardesai has revealed that 50 voters were brought in of his Fatorda constituency. The election machinery had no idea.”
Questioning the CEO, Khera asked, “The Chief Electoral Officer has now promised a probe. But should the CEO be investigating a lapse that happened on his watch? An inquiry into your own failure is like marking your own homework. You can do it, but nobody should be expected to take the grade seriously.”
Election officials across India seem to want a medal for finishing last.
Safeguarding electoral rolls is their job. They are paid to do it. Yet they are invariably the last ones to know when something is wrong.
Goa MLA @VijaiSardesai has revealed that 50 voters were brought in of his Fatorda constituency. The election machinery had no idea. The Chief Electoral Officer has now promised a probe.
But should the CEO be investigating a lapse that happened on his watch?
An inquiry into your own failure is like marking your own homework. You can do it, but nobody should be expected to take the grade seriously. https://t.co/qyOsDZiCHf
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 ಪವನ್ ಖೇರಾ (@Pawankhera) October 17, 2026
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
