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The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
TDP seeks procedural clarity, safeguards against wrongful deletions in electoral roll management
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has submitted a detailed representation to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday, proposing a series of reforms aimed at strengthening electoral roll management and enhancing transparency in the democratic process. Making a significant reference to the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the party emphasised the need for procedural clarity, safeguards against wrongful deletions, and respect for prior voter inclusion. The TDP leaders also suggested that the SIR process should be conducted with sufficient lead time, ideally not within six months of any major election, to ensure confidence and administrative preparedness. Stressing that the exercise should not be conflated with citizenship verification, the party has sought early initiation of the SIR in Andhra Pradesh. In a meeting convened by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar with all parties, TDP Lok Sabha floor leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu highlighted Andhra Pradesh's exemplary voter turnout of 81.86% in the 2024 general elections, far exceeding the national average of 65.79%. He urged the ECI to ensure this democratic momentum continues through timely, inclusive, and tech-driven voter roll revisions. In the meeting, TDP leaders, including the party's Andhra Pradesh unit president Palla Srinivasa Rao and MPs participated. Key suggestions by TDP The TDP has suggested that the SIR should be conducted with sufficient lead time, ideally not within six months of any major election, to ensure administrative preparedness Annual third-party audits under the supervision of CAG to identify anomalies in electoral rolls Use AI-driven tools for de-duplication, migration and deceased entries real time A time-bound grievance redressal mechanism at BLOs or EROs Standardise door numbers nationwide to strengthen electoral roll verification The other key suggestions of the party include annual third-party audits under the supervision of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India to identify anomalies in electoral rolls, use Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven tools for de-duplication, migration and deceased entries in real time, ensure a time bound grievance redressal mechanism at the Block Level Officers (BLOs) or Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and standardise door numbers nationwide as a policy measure to strengthen electoral roll verification. The TDP also suggested that Aadhaar-based EPIC number verification would help in removing duplication and replace the ink-based verification process with a biometric verification process. Participation of Parties The TDP suggested that the ECI should mandatorily involve Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from all recognised parties throughout the revision process and make pre-publication sharing of draft rolls with BLAs compulsory to enable real-time verification. The district-wise data on voter additions and deletions should be published with explanations on the ECI portal and a real-time public dashboard for tracking voter grievances and their resolution should be set up, the TDP leaders said. Legal Reforms and Accountability The TDP has also called for stricter accountability of election officials. It suggested to enforce statutory timelines and penalties for inaction or misconduct by EROs or District Election Officers (DEOs), empower the State election watch committees to function with observer status during roll revision, mandatory rotation of Block Level Officers (BLOs)/Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to prevent local influence or partisan misuse and appoint a State-level Ombudsman under ECI to handle unresolved political grievances related to the electoral rolls. It has also suggested the ECI to conduct targeted re-enrollment campaigns for migrant workers, tribal groups, elderly people, and homeless citizens, and permit temporary address declarations with basic documentation to prevent disenfranchisement of mobile populations.
India Gazette
09-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Owaisi labels revision of voter list in Bihar as
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday labelled the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly polls as 'backdoor NRC (National Register of Citizens)'. He said that the 'intensive revision' of the voter list in Bihar serves to 'disempower the poorest people and paves the way for their exclusion from citizenship'. 'The Bihar backdoor NRC serves two clear purposes: it disempowers the poorest people of Bihar and paves the way for their exclusion from citizenship. In this country, voting is the only real power the poor have. That right cannot be snatched away just because someone doesn't have a specific document,' Owaisi posted on X. He stated that the next step for those who fail to produce the required documents would be the denial of basic citizenship rights, including ration cards and the right to own agricultural land. The AIMIM chief stated that the 'intensive revision' happening now casts doubts on all previous voter registrations and elections that the ECI oversaw earlier. 'Once someone is removed from the electoral rolls for not being able to produce documents, the next step is predictable: they will be denied basic citizenship rights--ration cards, passports, the right to own agricultural land. Such individuals will be left vulnerable to blackmail and extortion,' Owaisi said. 'By launching this so-called 'Intensive Revision,' the Election Commission of India (ECI) is casting doubt on all previous voter registrations and elections that it itself oversaw. Every *Special Summary Revision* is supposed to weed out duplicate or false entries and strengthen the integrity of the rolls. The last 'Intensive Revision' in Bihar was in 2003--just before the 2004 Lok Sabha and 2005 Vidhan Sabha elections,' he added. Owaisi questioned the powers prescribed to the Booth Level Officers in deciding the citizenship of people. Citing the Supreme Court's judgment on the Babu Lal Hussein case, the AIMIM chief criticised the arbitrary powers being given to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant EROs. 'Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are not senior administrators; their duties are narrowly defined. And yet, they are now being tasked with deciding who is a citizen! BLOs are confused about their responsibilities, ill-equipped to help voters, and unprotected when attempting to do their jobs fairly. Similarly, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant EROs are being given arbitrary powers to doubt the citizenship of individuals--powers they do not legally possess. The Supreme Court's Babu Lal Hussein judgment made it clear: genuine evidence is required to question a person's citizenship,' he added. Owaisi stated that voters whose names appeared on the electoral rolls after the 'Special Summary Revision' on January 7 can't be forced to undergo the process again, as it would be in violation of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) and its rules. 'Electors who do not submit Enumeration Forms will be excluded from the draft roll and will be required to file Form 6 along with additional declarations. This is fundamentally flawed. Voters whose names appeared on the electoral rolls after the *Special Summary Revision* (as of January 7, 2025) cannot be forced to undergo the process all over again, nor should they face unreasonable consequences for failing to submit this new form. This violates the Representation of the People Act (RPA) and its associated rules,' he said. 'Why has the ECI chosen only these 11 documents, many of which are not even available to a majority of Biharis? Why was there no public consultation or engagement with political parties before this drastic move? Public consultation is standard practice for the ECI before major changes are introduced,' he added. Owaisi further criticised the ECI for failing to consider the population in Bihar that lives outside the state and returns to cast their votes. He also said that the current SIR exercise suggests 'poor planning and afterthought', given that the constitutional body was 'monitoring and updating the electoral rolls' even as recently as June 2025. 'Even as recently as June 2025, the Commission was actively monitoring and updating the electoral rolls. There was no indication at the time that a State-wide Intensive Revision (SIR) was under consideration. This abrupt change suggests poor planning and afterthought,' Owaisi said. 'The ECI has also failed to consider that a large number of eligible voters from Bihar may currently be outside their home districts or constituencies for work or study. It is entirely common for such voters to return home during election periods to cast their vote. This 'verification' process, conducted in their absence, unfairly penalises them,' he added. Intensifying his critique, Owaisi flagged the issue of multiple amendments to ECI's notification, claiming that the goal was to create panic among the poorest of the poor, who he said were being forced to prove their citizenship. 'The ECI is treating our citizenship and voting rights like a do-it-yourself project. It has amended its own notification multiple times--first requiring documents, then exempting certain groups, now saying a form must be filled, but documents aren't necessary. Clearly, the notification came first; the planning came later. The goal was simple: to create panic among the poorest of the poor. People already struggling to feed their children are now being forced to pause their lives and dig up decades-old documents to prove they are not foreigners,' the AIMIM chief said. 'This entire process reflects a complete non-application of mind and worse, mala fide--on the part of the Election Commission,' he added. As tensions rise over the ongoing Bihar Bandh and debates surrounding voter list revisions, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken a significant step to reaffirm constitutional principles. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has posted an image on its 'X' account highlighting Article 326 of the Constitution of India, which mandates universal adult suffrage, ensuring every Indian citizen above 18 years of age can vote unless disqualified. The provision, introduced in 1989 to lower the voting age from 21, underscores India's commitment to broader democratic participation. 'Article 326 - Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage. The elections to the House of the People and the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be on the basis of adult suffrage, that is to say, every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than eighteen years of age on such date as may be fixed in that behalf by or under any law made by the appropriate Legislature and is not otherwise disqualified under this Constitution or any law made by the appropriate Legislature on the ground of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter at any such election,' posted by ECI on X. (ANI)
Hans India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
RJD warns of mass disenfranchisement on ongoing voter roll revision process in Bihar
New Delhi: In a sharp reaction to the ongoing voter roll revision process in Bihar, RJD MP Manoj Jha on Monday voiced serious concerns over what he termed as a mass-scale disenfranchisement plan targeting the poor, Dalits, Muslims, and backward communities. His remarks came as Opposition parties, including his Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), moved the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India's (ECI) first phase of voter list revision in the state. 'This concern is not personal - it is collective,' Jha told IANS. "This is the concern of every poor person who is being targeted for eviction from the electoral list.' Jha criticised the ECI's approach as exclusionary and said it is especially unjust in a state like Bihar, which he described as "document-deficit." He pointed out that demanding 11 specific documents within just 25 days makes it nearly impossible for many, especially those living outside the state, to comply. 'You're revising rolls after 22 years and giving just 25 days. You know Bihar lacks easy access to certificates. You know 20 per cent of people live outside the state. Where will they get these documents from? How can they return, collect them, and submit them within this narrow timeframe?' Jha told IANS. The RJD lawmaker alleged that the entire exercise violates Article 326 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, which promotes voter inclusion. "But this entire campaign is focused on exclusion. Even the public notices published in newspapers have only sown confusion. You are giving excessive powers to local officials - Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) - who can now arbitrarily add or remove names. This is deeply worrying.' He added that this is not just a legal or technical issue but a democratic one. "Today, every major newspaper in Bihar has written about it. People from every caste and religion are afraid. There was no consultation with stakeholders, no transparency. In such a situation, approaching the Supreme Court was the only option." The opposition INDIA bloc has called for a Bihar Bandh on July 9, opposing the voter list revision. The alliance claims the exercise could disenfranchise nearly 20 per cent of the state's 8 crore voters, disproportionately affecting marginalised groups. "Who are the ones being excluded? The poor, the backward, the Dalits, the Muslims. This isn't just about documentation — this is about trust in the system. The ECI must remember that it's not the custodian of suspicion, it is the custodian of free and fair elections." Jha also raised concerns about the recent 'Sanatan Mahakumbh' held at Patna's Gandhi Maidan, where Bageshwar Dham leader Dhirendra Krishna Shastri called for a 'Bhagwa-e-Hind' and demanded the creation of a Hindu Rashtra. "We are people of the Constitution. We believe in Ambedkar, in Gandhi, in Nehru. India is a multi-religious, multi-lingual nation with diverse traditions. Our flag is tricolour, not monochrome. One-nation-one-religion thinking doesn't fit the soul of India." The RJD MP also responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at the BRICS Summit, where the PM called terrorism "the most serious challenge facing humanity" and said it must be condemned unequivocally. "This platform has always had global significance, and the Prime Minister's message was indeed meaningful. But when the US President Donald Trump makes threatening statements about BRICS and its potential currency initiatives, we should have responded strongly to assert our independence and challenge American hegemony." Jha suggested India must take a principled stance in this evolving geopolitical environment and not appear passive in the face of economic intimidation. In a social media post, Trump warned of a 10 per cent tariff on any country aligning with what he called BRICS' "anti-American policies". He had earlier threatened a 100 per cent tariff if BRICS moves forward with proposals to reduce dollar dependence in global trade.
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delhi to follow Bihar's contentious electoral roll revision; March 2008 set as cut-off date
NEW DELHI: The political climate in the national capital is set to heat up with the Election Commission of India (ECI) notifying the cut-off date for a special intensive revision (SIR) of Delhi's electoral rolls--an exercise currently stirring controversy in Bihar. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi, has notified the cut-off date for the revision as March 16, 2008--the same date when the last SIR was carried out. This means that all voter names added to the rolls after this date will now be subject to verification. Individuals falling in this category will be required to furnish proof of citizenship to retain their names on the electoral list. Although the formal schedule for the verification process has not been announced, officials have indicated that the process is likely to begin in August. 'Training of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have begun from July 3rd. The door-to-door campaign for verification and other processes is expected to start in schedule regarding this will be out soon,' a senior poll official told this newspaper.
Hans India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Election Commission engages state parties ahead of Bihar polls
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a fresh round of meetings with recognised state political parties as part of its ongoing consultations ahead of upcoming electoral exercises, including the crucial Bihar Assembly elections later this year and West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry Assembly elections next year. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on Tuesday had an interaction with a delegation from Trinamool Congress led by the party's authorised representative-Chandrima Bhattacharya, Kalyan Banerjee, Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas and Prakash Chik Baraik and received their suggestions at the poll panel's headquarters in New Delhi. "These interactions provide for a long-felt need of constructive discussions which enable national and state party presidents to share their suggestions and concerns directly with the Commission," said a press statement from the Election Commission. It added that this initiative aligns with the Commission's broader vision of further strengthening the electoral process in accordance with the existing legal framework, with all stakeholders. The poll panel has already met with delegations of recognised National Parties. These include the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) led by Mayawati on May 6, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by J.P. Nadda on May 8, CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby on May 10, National People's Party (NPP) President Conrad Sangma on May 13, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal on May 15. Earlier this year, in March, a total of 4,719 all-party meetings were conducted, including 40 meetings by Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), 800 by District Electoral Officers (DEOs), and 3,879 by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), engaging more than 28,000 representatives of political parties across the country. With Bihar set to go to the polls, the Election Commission is expected to intensify its focus on the state. Meanwhile, the ECI has also taken a firm stance against defunct registered political parties. Several such parties, which remain on official rolls despite being inactive for years, are now under scrutiny. Last week, the poll panel started proceedings for delisting of 345 registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs) which have failed to fulfil the essential condition of contesting even a single election for the last six years since 2019.
