Patna: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, Gyanesh Kumar, stated on Sunday that the electoral rolls in Bihar have been "purified" following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted after 22 years. However, he remained silent on questions regarding "infiltrators" in the voter list, a contentious issue raised by political parties.
Kumar addressed a press conference in Patna after concluding a two-day visit to Bihar, where the Election Commission of India (ECI) held discussions with various stakeholders concerning the preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. He was accompanied by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
The CEC expressed satisfaction with the SIR, claiming it had "purified" the voters' list. He noted that the number of genuine voters had decreased from 7.89 crore to 7.42 crore due to the removal of ineligible voters. These removals were due to various factors, including individuals not being citizens, deceased, having migrated, or having duplicate registrations. Approximately 6.5 lakh names were removed before the draft publication in August, with an additional 3.66 lakh names removed during the subsequent period for claims and objections. While the CEC did not provide category-wise details, he mentioned that individuals who believe their names were wrongly deleted could still file appeals at the district election offices.
While Kumar evaded direct answers on the number of "infiltrators" identified during the SIR, a term often used by the ruling alliance, he clarified the role of Aadhaar in the process. He stated that Aadhaar would serve as proof of identity but not of citizenship, date of birth, or residence. This stance, he emphasized, aligns with the Supreme Court's position.
The CEC also addressed concerns about "vote theft" raised by Rahul Gandhi. While he did not directly respond to the allegations, he instructed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar, Vinod Gunjyal, to investigate any specific information regarding the addition of a large number of individuals from a particular community at a specific booth.
Kumar announced several new initiatives for the Bihar Assembly elections, many of which will later be implemented across the country. These include:
- 100% webcasting at all polling booths to ensure smooth and transparent operations.
- A cap of 1,200 voters per booth to reduce crowding and shorten queues, with additional booths set up in high-rise residential complexes.
- A revised standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure that EPIC cards are delivered within 15 days of registration.
- A mobile deposit facility outside polling booths for voters to leave their phones before entering.
- Mandatory verification of VVPAT slips in case of complaints about mismatches with EVM data.
- Color photographs of candidates on EVMs to make ballot papers more readable.
The CEC urged political parties to appoint polling and counting agents at all booths to ensure transparency. He also appealed to the voters of Bihar to participate in the elections with enthusiasm. The Election Commission aims to complete the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections before November 22, when the term of the current House ends.
