Are the Opposition Leaders' Allegations on Voter List Manipulation Correct?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- ECI dismisses Opposition allegations
- Transparency in electoral processes emphasized
- 127 claims resolved in Bihar
- 54,432 new voters registered
- Importance of accurate electoral rolls
New Delhi, Aug 11 (NationPress) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday released a fact-check categorizing the claims made by protesting Opposition leaders regarding alleged voter list manipulation as “incorrect”.
In a demonstration of transparency, the ECI shared insights from meetings with various political entities before, during, and after the release of the draft electoral roll in Bihar. They emphasized the importance of maintaining clarity throughout the electoral process.
Stating that accurate electoral rolls are vital for democracy, the ECI reiterated the actual directive of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar and provided links to videos featuring testimonials from representatives of different political parties, including the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and the Left.
This fact-check coincided with a protest led by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, who organized a march of the INDIA Bloc from Parliament to the ECI’s office at Nirvachan Sadan in Delhi.
On their official X handle, the Congress declared, “India will fight back against vote chori”.
During the protest, Rahul Gandhi was detained and later expressed gratitude to all participating Opposition parties on X, emphasizing that this struggle transcends politics; it is about safeguarding democracy, the Constitution, and the fundamental right to vote.
The ECI reported that out of 10,570 claims and objections related to the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, officials have resolved 127 so far.
Despite 11 days passing since the draft electoral rolls were published, no political parties have lodged any complaints, according to the poll panel.
The ECI also noted that, since August 1, a total of 54,432 new voters who have reached the age of 18 during the SIR process have submitted forms for inclusion in the voter list.
Opposition parties have criticized the SIR initiative in Bihar, alleging irregularities that they claim endanger the voting rights of millions; however, the ECI firmly refutes these accusations.