Election Commission Refutes Allegations

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has firmly rejected claims made by senior Congress leader P Chidambaram regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar and Tamil Nadu. Chidambaram had criticized the exercise, suggesting that lakhs of names could be deleted from the voter list, and described the addition of 6.5 lakh voters in Tamil Nadu as alarming and illegal. The ECI clarified that the SIR has not been implemented in Tamil Nadu, labeling Chidambaram’s figures as “false” and his statements as “misleading.”

Chidambaram’s Concerns Over Voter Deletion

Chidambaram expressed concerns about the disenfranchisement of 65 lakh voters in Bihar, questioning how the ECI concluded that these voters had “permanently migrated,” leading to their removal from the electoral rolls. He argued that labeling them as such was an insult to migrant workers and interfered with the electorate’s rights in Tamil Nadu.

ECI’s Clarification on Voter Registration

The ECI responded by emphasizing citizens’ rights under Article 19(1)(e) to reside anywhere in India and clarified that voters must enroll in constituencies where they are eligible. It explained that individuals originally from one state but residing in another are entitled to register as electors in their current place of residence.

Political Reactions and Implications

The publication of draft electoral rolls in Bihar has sparked political controversy, with opposition parties raising questions about transparency. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) challenged the data on voter deaths provided by the ECI, alleging a lack of transparency. The ECI reported that over 65 lakh enumeration forms were excluded from Bihar’s draft rolls, reducing registered voters from 7.9 crore to 7.24 crore.

Voter Rights and Remedies

Voters who believe their names were wrongfully deleted can file complaints until September 1. The first stage of SIR involved distributing enumeration forms to voters, who were required to return them with signatures and identity proof.