While growing political friction ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has strongly defended the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) move to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. As tensions rise between the ruling NDA alliance and the Opposition-led INDIA bloc, Kumar reiterated that maintaining a clean, updated, and transparent voter list is essential for the health of India’s democracy.
“Should Dead and Duplicate Voters Be Allowed?”
Speaking firmly in response to mounting allegations, particularly from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, Gyanesh Kumar posed a series of rhetorical questions to critics:
“Should the Election Commission allow dead voters to remain on the rolls? Should duplicate EPIC holders be permitted to vote? Should foreigners be allowed on the voter list? What exactly is the objection?”
Kumar has spent much of his tenure under intense scrutiny, with the Opposition accusing the ECI of functioning under the influence of the Narendra Modi-led central government. Yet, in his most recent remarks, the CEC made it clear that the Commission’s constitutional duty is to uphold free and fair elections, beginning with accurate voter data.
“Isn’t a pure, foolproof electoral roll—prepared through a transparent and verifiable process—the foundation stone of a fair election and a strong democracy?” Kumar asked. “These are questions that we, and every citizen of India, must consider, irrespective of political ideology.”
56 Lakh Voter Names Marked for Deletion
According to official EC data released on Wednesday, as many as 56 lakh names have been flagged for deletion from the electoral rolls in Bihar. This massive revision includes:
-
20 lakh deceased voters
-
28 lakh individuals who have permanently migrated out of the state
-
7 lakh duplicate entries registered in more than one location
-
1 lakh untraceable or uncontactable voters
Additionally, another 15 lakh voters have not returned their voter verification forms, placing them at risk of being removed from the final rolls. The magnitude of these deletions has sparked a political firestorm.
Opposition Cries Foul, Demands Rollback
On Thursday, several MPs from the INDIA alliance, including Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, staged a protest in the Parliament House complex, slamming the EC for what they claim is an attempt to disenfranchise legitimate voters. They demanded a rollback of the voter revision exercise and called for an immediate debate in both Houses of Parliament.
The Opposition claims the voter purge is not just excessive, but strategically timed to weaken their electoral base ahead of the crucial Bihar polls. Allegations of bias, procedural opacity, and lack of accountability have been repeatedly levelled against the ECI in recent months.
Interestingly, some dissenting voices have also emerged from within the ruling NDA fold, particularly from the Janata Dal (United), a key ally in Bihar. These leaders have questioned the timing and scope of the revision exercise.
EC Defends Transparency, Offers Window for Correction
Responding to concerns, the EC has clarified that the Special Intensive Revision follows a defined and transparent process. From August 1 to September 1, there will be a one-month window during which:
-
Any eligible citizen or recognized political party can submit claims and objections
-
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and party-appointed Booth Level Agents (BLAs) can request additions or deletions based on supporting documents.
This phase, the EC claims, provides an adequate opportunity for correcting any errors and ensuring that no legitimate voter is left out.
A Constitutional Responsibility
Drawing on the authority of the Indian Constitution, Kumar maintained that the EC cannot allow the election process to be compromised by the presence of fake votes, deceased voters, duplicate registrations, or foreign nationals.
“The Constitution of India is the mother of our democracy,” he said. “Our efforts to revise the rolls are rooted in our fear that fake or duplicate votes could undermine the sanctity of the electoral process. Shouldn’t the Election Commission weed out such voters?”