Trinamool Calls for Unique Voter ID System
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On March 6, the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal demanded the Election Commission of India to establish a "Unique ID" for electoral photo identity cards, akin to Aadhaar cards and passports, to ensure the integrity of the voting process.
Key Takeaways
- Trinamool Congress advocates for Unique IDs for EPIC.
- Five-member delegation meets with the CEO.
- Demands include online voter verification.
- Party seeks to identify bogus voters.
- Allegations of BJP manipulating voters' lists.
Kolkata, March 6 (NationPress) The ruling Trinamool Congress of West Bengal on Thursday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to implement a "Unique ID" for the EPIC (electoral photo identity cards), similar to the systems used for Aadhaar cards and passports.
A delegation of five members from the Trinamool Congress, led by the party's West Bengal President Subrata Bakshi, visited the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office on Thursday to present their request.
The delegation included state Municipal Affairs & Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim, Power Minister Arup Biswas, Minister of State for Finance (Independent Charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya, and Rajya Sabha member Ritabrata Banerjee.
After their meeting with the CEO, Hakim informed the media that the BJP is attempting to turn the electoral process in India into a farcical exercise. He emphasized that two voters from different states should not possess the same EPIC number, advocating for the introduction of Unique IDs for EPICs, akin to Aadhaar cards and passports.
Additionally, the delegation requested physical verification for voters registered online. Hakim stressed that the commission must prevent any voter from other states from casting their vote in West Bengal during the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trinamool’s internal core committee held its inaugural meeting, formed last month to examine the voters' list in West Bengal and identify fraudulent entries. The committee decided to initiate a door-to-door survey starting this weekend to detect any bogus voters in the state's electoral rolls.
The Trinamool Congress alleges that the BJP secured substantial victories in the recent Assembly elections in Delhi and Maharashtra due to such manipulations in the voters’ list and is attempting to replicate this strategy in West Bengal.
