Did Chidambaram Challenge the EC Over Bihar's Final Electoral Rolls?
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Synopsis
In a bold move, P. Chidambaram questions the integrity of the Election Commission's voter verification process in Bihar, raising crucial concerns about transparency ahead of the Assembly elections. Discover the implications of his inquiries and the response from the political landscape.
Key Takeaways
- P. Chidambaram questions the integrity of the Bihar electoral rolls.
- Concerns about the inclusion rate of the adult population are raised.
- Allegations of nonsensical names and duplicates in voter lists.
- The Congress party calls for transparency from the Election Commission.
- Electoral integrity is vital for public trust in democracy.
New Delhi, Oct 9 (NationPress) In the wake of the Congress party's sharp critique of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, senior leader P. Chidambaram launched a new attack on the electoral body on Thursday, citing alleged discrepancies in the 'voter purification' initiative ahead of the state Assembly elections.
Using his social media platform, Chidambaram posed six pointed questions that cast doubt on the legitimacy of the SIR and insisted that the poll panel must provide a satisfactory response 'in the interest of transparency and fairness.'
He clarified that he was not accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of misconduct, but emphasized that the citizens of India, particularly those in Bihar, deserve clarity regarding the various issues, uncertainties, and suspicions surrounding the voter verification process, which was hastily implemented just before the elections.
Chidambaram requested answers to the following inquiries: “What is the estimate of the adult population of Bihar according to the Government of India? What percentage of the adult population is reflected in the Bihar electoral rolls? Is it 90.7 percent? What about the remaining 9.3 percent of adults? Why are they not included in the electoral rolls?”
He further questioned, “How many names on the electoral rolls are nonsensical? Is the figure around 24,000? How many house numbers in the electoral rolls are either missing or clearly invalid? Is this number over 200,000? How many names in the electoral rolls are duplicates? Is it approximately 520,000?”
The ECI released the finalized electoral rolls for the Bihar elections on September 30, which included a total of 7.42 crore registered voters.
However, this announcement has sparked significant protests from the Congress-led opposition, who accused the election authority of collusion with the ruling party to skew electoral results.
They alleged that nearly 10 percent of the total deletions, which amounted to about 67.3 lakh voters, occurred in just 15 out of the 243 Assembly constituencies.
Additionally, they demanded that the election authority provide a consolidated list of deleted voters, along with the reasons for these deletions.
Point of View
It is crucial to recognize the vital role of transparency in electoral processes. Chidambaram's questions highlight the need for accountability from the Election Commission. The integrity of the electoral system must be upheld to ensure public trust and confidence in democracy.
NationPress
09/10/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main concerns raised by Chidambaram?
Chidambaram raised concerns about the accuracy of the electoral rolls, including the percentage of the adult population included, the existence of nonsensical names, blank house numbers, and potential duplicate entries.
Why is the Congress party critical of the Election Commission?
The Congress party criticizes the Election Commission for alleged collusion with the ruling party, suggesting that the electoral rolls may have been manipulated to influence the outcomes of the elections.
What is the significance of the voter verification process?
The voter verification process is essential for ensuring that electoral rolls are accurate and inclusive, which is fundamental for fair elections.
