India's electoral process is facing increased scrutiny as allegations of irregularities in voter rolls surface amidst the current administration led by Narendra Modi. Opposition parties and rights groups have raised concerns over the deletion of names from voter lists, particularly in the lead-up to crucial state elections and with a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls on the horizon.
The opposition has accused Modi's government of manipulating previous polls in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Allegations of fraudulent voter lists have been made, with claims that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is colluding with the ruling BJP. Rahul Gandhi, a prominent opposition leader, has been particularly vocal, alleging that a significant number of questionable entries appeared on Haryana's electoral rolls and accusing the ECI of "vote chori". He cited an instance where a photo of a Brazilian model was allegedly used multiple times across different entries. Gandhi has also claimed attempts to delete voters in Karnataka and add "fake voters" in Maharashtra.
These discrepancies generally fall into categories such as duplicate voter entries, invalid address entries, and bulk voter registrations. The ECI's response has often been to deflect responsibility onto political parties for not filing objections. However, critics argue that the scale of the alleged irregularities necessitates the ECI to take proactive measures to clean up voter lists.
A Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been carried out in Bihar, leading to the exclusion of millions of names. The ECI stated that these removals were necessary to prevent the inclusion of "foreign illegal immigrants". However, this action has sparked controversy, with opposition parties and rights groups claiming it could disenfranchise genuine voters, especially those lacking formal identification. Some petitioners have estimated that a significant number of Muslims were excluded from the electoral rolls in Bihar. The ECI has disputed these estimates but has not provided a caste and religious breakdown of those excluded.
Concerns about the integrity of the voter rolls extend beyond Bihar. Allegations of wrongful deletions have been a recurring issue in Indian elections, with past controversies in Telangana and Delhi. High courts have stressed that disenfranchisement through arbitrary deletion cannot be permitted.
The ECI has faced increasing scrutiny and accusations of partisanship. Critics argue that the ECI should be independent, transparent, and accountable to maintain faith in the electoral process. The integrity of voter rolls is crucial for ensuring the legitimacy of elections and the government they produce. The ongoing controversies highlight the need for a renewed commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process and addressing concerns about potential disenfranchisement.
With the final electoral roll expected to be released in February 2026, the debate surrounding voter roll revisions is likely to continue. The Supreme Court is currently hearing legal challenges to the SIR process. The outcome of these legal challenges and the actions taken by the ECI will be critical in determining the credibility of future elections.
