New Delhi, Jul 24: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar firmly responded to rising criticism over the ongoing special voter roll revision in Bihar, questioning whether the Election Commission should compromise its integrity by retaining names of the deceased, permanently migrated individuals, or those registered in multiple constituencies.
His comments follow growing attacks from opposition parties, who allege that the revision drive may result in the disenfranchisement of crores of eligible voters. They accuse the Election Commission of using the exercise to manipulate the electoral base in Bihar, with broader implications for national elections.
Kumar defended the revision process, asserting that a transparent and accurate electoral roll is the bedrock of free and fair elections and a cornerstone of democratic governance. He warned against permitting ineligible individuals to remain on voter lists, stating such actions would violate constitutional principles.
“Isn’t a pure voter list being prepared by the Election Commission through a transparent process, the foundation for fair elections and a strong democracy?” he asked, emphasizing the importance of electoral integrity beyond partisan perspectives.
As part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, election officials discovered that over 52 lakh registered voters were not found at their listed addresses. Additionally, nearly 18 lakh voters were confirmed dead, highlighting the scale of inaccuracy in existing records.
The Election Commission maintains that these corrections are crucial for ensuring credible elections and has called for broader public and political understanding of the constitutional need for clean and authentic voter databases.
