Rahul Dravid, Karnataka Election Ambassador, Cannot Vote This Time

The former Indian cricket team captain’s name has been deleted from the electoral list in a Bengaluru constituency.

Rahul Dravid during an event at New Delhi.

(Photo: PTI)

Former Indian cricket captain and Karnataka election ambassador, Rahul Dravid, cannot vote in the upcoming elections since his name has been deleted from the electoral list of a Bengaluru constituency.

Dravid’s name was deleted from his old Indiranagar constituency after he changed his residence. However, reportedly Dravid’s name was not updated in the constituency where he is currently living.

The confusion appears to have occurred when Dravid’s brother Vijay submitted Form 7 (for deleting names from voters’ list) on 31 October, 2018 mentioning that Dravid and his wife Vijeta had shifted to Ashwathnagar in RMV Extension from Indiranagar.

The Election Commission, during a special drive, visited Dravid’s Indiranagar house in the presence of Vijay and removed Dravid and his wife’s name. But, Dravid, did not submit form 6 which is meant to add names to the electoral roll.

Ironically, Karnataka is smeared with hoardings of Dravid urging people to cast their vote this election. 

Domlur sub-division assistant electoral returning officer Basawaraju Magi said Dravid had contacted him later asking his name could be continued in the Indiranagar electoral list.

According to the The Times of India, “Dravid later contacted Magi and sought to know if his name can be continued in the voters’ list in Indiranagar. Magi said, “Dravid was in Spain, but was very eager to vote.

Unfortunately, his name got deleted from the Shantinagar assembly constituency. I have told him if he still wants his name to be included in Shantinagar list, he needs to submit Form 6, which can be done once the EC allows it after 23 April.”

‘Night King Brought Down the Wall’

Reacting to the news, the Aam Aadmi Party took a dig at the EC on Sunday, 14 April, saying that the ‘Night King’ had brought down the ‘Wall’ – a moniker given to Dravid.

In another tweet, the party said: “The Wall torn down from the voters' list. Is India really having a free and fair election?”