1 hr ago
BJP Allies Seek Clarity From Election Commission Over Voter Lists
Three parties that support the Bharatiya Janata Party want the Election Commission to explain concerns about voter lists.
They say clearer information could help people trust elections.
The concerns followed a report about objections by two Election Commissioners.
The report said the objections involved voter forms, additions and deletions, and control of voter-list data.
Opposition parties have also criticized the Chief Election Commissioner and the voter-list revision process.
The Election Commission says disagreements during internal discussions are normal.
It says its final decisions were made unanimously.
One ally said the revision process in Andhra Pradesh was transparent.
Another ally said the controversy had created confusion among the public.
Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas, Telugu Desam Party, and Rashtriya Lok Manch sought clarification from the Election Commission over voter-list revision concerns.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan warned that public confidence in India’s electoral system could be damaged by the controversy.
A report said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times to decisions involving voter registration and electoral rolls.
The Election Commission said differing views are normal and that final decisions, including on the Special Intensive Revision, were unanimous.
Opposition parties have demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal and a halt to the Special Intensive Revision.
- Who
- Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas, Telugu Desam Party, and Rashtriya Lok Manch, along with Union Minister Chirag Paswan and other political parties.
- What
- They sought clearer explanations from the Election Commission about concerns surrounding voter-list revision and the Special Intensive Revision.
- Where
- The controversy concerns India’s Election Commission and electoral-roll processes, including the Special Intensive Revision.
- When
- The demands were made on Friday, following a report about objections raised over the previous 10 months.
- Why
- The parties said clarification and transparency were needed to reduce public confusion and protect confidence in the electoral system.
Critics and Allied Parties
Election Commission and Governing Party
Need for clarification
Critics and Allied Parties
The three Bharatiya Janata Party allies said the Election Commission should explain the reported objections and address public confusion.
Election Commission and Governing Party
The Election Commission said internal differences are part of normal deliberation and that its final decisions were unanimous.
Special Intensive Revision
Critics and Allied Parties
Opposition parties have called for the Special Intensive Revision to be halted and have demanded the Chief Election Commissioner’s removal.
Election Commission and Governing Party
The Election Commission defended its decisions as legally sanctioned, while a Telugu Desam Party leader said the process in Andhra Pradesh was transparent.
Effect on public trust
Critics and Allied Parties
Chirag Paswan and other allies warned that unanswered questions could weaken confidence in elections.
Election Commission and Governing Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party characterized exchanges within the commission as part of democratic deliberation and downplayed the reported differences.
Key facts
- Parties seeking clarification
- Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas, Telugu Desam Party, and Rashtriya Lok Manch
- Union minister
- Chirag Paswan, who heads Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas
- Reported objections
- At least 14 objections over 10 months by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
- Issues cited
- Changes to voter registration Form 6, electoral-roll additions and deletions, and centralized database control
- Election Commission position
- Differing views are normal, while final decisions, including on the Special Intensive Revision, were unanimous
- Opposition demand
- Removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and suspension of the Special Intensive Revision
- Andhra Pradesh assessment
- A Telugu Desam Party leader described the revision there as transparent and successful
Quotes
Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu
Telugu Desam Party Lok Sabha floor leader
“If people start losing trust in the electoral system, that will not augur well for democracy and, therefore, I think the Election Commission must come out with its clarification more forcefully.”
rediff.com
“Therefore, whenever questions are raised by anyone, providing appropriate clarification and maintaining transparency will only help strengthen public confidence in the institution.”
rediff.com
Sources
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