Election Commission abusing power: Opposition demands discussion on voter list revision

INDIA bloc leaders stage a protest outside the Parliament against the electoral roll revision. PIC/PTI

Senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday alleged that the neutrality of the Election Commission (EC) is questionable, which is why the opposition parties want a discussion on the revision of the voter list in Parliament. The opposition has been protesting in both Houses of Parliament against the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR), alleging the EC's exercise was aimed at "disenfranchising voters" in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections. They have been demanding a discussion on the issue in both Houses of Parliament.

"Today, there is a question mark in the minds of the people regarding the neutrality of the EC. That is why we want a discussion in Parliament. The government is trying to hide something. What is it? Is it their manipulation in the last assembly polls and Lok Sabha election?" Gogoi, who is also the deputy leader of the party in Lok Sabha, said. He said the Opposition wants an open discussion in Parliament regarding the voter list, which is being revised in Bihar.

"The common people should know the status of their voting rights and details of polling stations. We want a discussion on this, but the government is saying they cannot discuss the matter.

Abuse of powers

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday alleged that the Election Commission is trying to change the electoral character and patterns of states, and asserted that this "abuse of powers" must be fought politically and legally. The former home minister said the Bihar voter revision exercise is getting curiouser and curiouser. While 65 lakh voters are in danger of being disenfranchised in Bihar, reports of ‘adding' 6.5 lakh people as voters in Tamil Nadu is alarming and patently illegal, Chidambaram said in a post on X.

"A person to be enrolled as a voter must have a fixed and permanent legal home. The migrant worker has such a home in Bihar (or another state). How can he/she be enrolled as a voter in Tamil Nadu?" Chidambaram said. "The ECI is abusing its powers and trying to change the electoral character and patterns of States. This abuse of powers and must be fought politically and legally," he said.

‘Silent Invisible Rigging'

TMC leader Derek O'Brien said the ruling BJP is "scared" of discussing the SIR, and called the exercise "silent invisible rigging." "The SIR (Silent Invisible Rigging) vote chori is a subject that can easily be discussed in both Houses. BJP is scared and are disrupting."

No objection, claims made: EC

The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday said no political party in Bihar has so far approached it for inclusion or removal of names from the draft electoral roll published on August 1. The EC said that between 3 pm on August 1 and 3 pm on August 3 (Sunday), no demand under claims and objections has been received.

But individually, 941 claims and objections have been received from voters for the inclusion of names or for the removal of those they claim are ineligible from the voter list. Political parties and voters have one month till September 1 to demand inclusion or removal of names from the voter list. The EC maintains that it has ensured that no eligible person will be left out of the final electoral roll to be published on September 30.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever