Synopsis
On March 10, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, urged Parliament to engage in a thorough discussion regarding the voters list, highlighting alleged discrepancies in electoral rolls and EPIC number duplication. This request reflects growing concerns among opposition parties about the integrity of the electoral process.Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi demands parliamentary discussion on voters list.
- Concerns over electoral roll discrepancies and EPIC duplicity.
- Opposition parties unite to question Election Commission's transparency.
- Recent reports of multiple individuals sharing the same EPIC number.
- TMC MPs to meet Chief Election Commissioner to lodge complaints.
New Delhi, March 10 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Monday called for an in-depth discussion in Parliament regarding the controversial matter of the voters list, pointing to alleged inconsistencies in the electoral rolls and the duplication of Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers.
During the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi stated that the entire Opposition was in favor of discussing the voters list issue and urged Speaker Om Birla to enable this discussion.
The demand from Congress MPs for a dialogue about the electoral rolls arises amid an intensifying debate over EPIC numbers. Recently, Congress and TMC criticized the Election Commission, demanding transparency regarding the alleged ‘duplicacy’ in the electoral rolls, threatening to expose the poll panel if their demands were not met.
Last month, Congress also raised concerns regarding supposed irregularities in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, asserting that more voters had been added to the list in the last five months than in the previous five years.
In his insistence on addressing the alleged discrepancies, Rahul Gandhi remarked in the Lok Sabha, "The voter lists are being scrutinized nationwide. Questions have been posed by the opposition in every state, including Maharashtra. It is crucial for the House to engage in a debate on this matter.
While pushing for a thorough discussion, he also directed a sharp comment at the Speaker, which resulted in an immediate response from the latter.
"We acknowledge your point that the government does not create voter lists. However, we insist on a discussion regarding the issue," the Congress leader concluded.
Additionally, a group of 10 TMC MPs is scheduled to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to file complaints regarding the alleged duplication of EPIC numbers.
The poll panel, however, has dismissed any claims of discrepancies, clarifying that duplication in the alphanumeric series does not necessarily indicate a fraudulent voters list.
The controversy emerged after reports indicated that multiple individuals were sharing identical EPIC numbers. As images circulated on social media, these claims bolstered assertions that the duplicate IDs were equivalent to fraudulent voters.
