On 5 October, a day before Bihar Assembly Election date announcement, opposition Congress party has accused EC (Election Commission) of deleting the names of 23 lakh women voters from voter list. EC is accused to have removed the names from electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The claim is made focusing on females of Dalit and Muslim communities. Calling it a “Vote Chori” (Vote Theft), All India Mahala Congress president Alka Lamba alleged Election Commission of being fraud and dishonest. Declaring the act against the Constitution, she stated in the press conference at Congress’ Indira Bhawan headquarter that those women will not be able to vote in the upcoming elections. Six districts- Gopalganj, Saran,Begusarai, Shamateur, Bhojpur and Purnea have witnessed the maximum number of women from electoral roll. These districts cumulatively cover nearly 60 assembly seats. She claimed that out of 3.5 crore women voters in Bihar, about 22.7 lakh have been removed and that 15lakh men have also been removed. Congress party has called it a well-planned execution tofavor the ruling party. On multiple occasions this year, Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi alsomade claims regarding vote theft and electoral list having fake voters.
Understanding the Special Intensive Revision
SIR (Special Intensive Revision) is a process to review the electoral roll and updating it. Itinvolves removing duplicate names and the names of voters who have died and migratedfurther adding new eligible voters. It can be termed as the purification process of voters list.In this recent SIR exercise in Bihar, out of total 7.89 crore voters, almost 47 lakh names have been removed taking the count to 7.42 crore. And after the drafting stage net 17.87 lakh voters were added.
Why is it being called a “Vote Chori”?
Several reasons have come up for the reason behind the ‘Vote Chori’ allegations, the reasons are as follows:
1. Because majority of names deleted were of women from Dalit and Muslim community whose vote is often expected against the ruling party.
2. Same people voted last year in the Lok Sabha Elections and at that time their votes were valid so removal of targeted names before Assembly Elections raises concerns.
3. As the majority of voters are chosen from targeted districts, the opposition believes it could be no coincidence.
4. The timing of deletion of names- just before the elections raises serious suspicion.
What was response from the Election Commission?
So far, Election Commission has disagreed and claimed the accusations to be false.
1. They claimed SIR process to be a legal and transparent process helping in verification of authenticity of Voter Roll. Ruling out deceased and shifted voters.
2. It argued that although 47 lakh names were removed, a total of 21 new names were also added.
3. Earlier this year, when Rahul Gandhi accused EC of vote theft and biasness towards the ruling party the Election commission had asked him to present either a sworn affidavit within seven days or an apology to the nation.
Concerns about integrity and transparency of constitutional body-While the controversy is regarding elections in Bihar, it also raises a serious concern of suspicion towards Election Commission, which is responsible for conducting elections in throughout the country. And if the accusations are proven false and baseless, it will be a faith reducing step for a political gain.
Ordinary voters are likely to be confused and uncertain regarding legitimacy of their votes. Trust and honesty towards the apex election-conducting constitutional body will be hindered. Congress also launched a signature campaign, which aims to gather five crore signatures from all over the country to put pressure on the election commission, making it a national issue.
As the true outcome of convictions is yet to come, courts might get involved in the matter. Matter of fact, Judiciary was also alleged by opposition to have influence upon of the ruling government. Right to vote is a constitutional right provided exclusively to the citizens and when such matter arises, trust and belief of a citizen upon his vote is somehow no longer exists.
Final Conclusion
The debate over Bihar’s voter list has gained national attention, it has taken the name of a controversy nowwhich does not remain just a political fight between two Political parties. It has now become about the public trust in fair elections. When such matter of removal of targeted names from electoral list comes out, the raised questions towards Election Commission are very obvious. If genuine voters are left out, it takes away their legal right provided by the Constitution of India. Election commission is expected to keep
transparency in their conduct and assure the citizens of a Free and Fair elections.
