NEW DELHI: Amid mounting criticim over the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Election Commission on Thursday in a statement defended the exercise, asking if the poll body should instead be allowing "the dead, those who have migrated permanently or have registered themselves as electors at multiple places be included in the voters' list." The EC also questioned why the alleged 'cheating' in Karnataka poll revision is being brought up now.
The commission was responding to accusations made by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that the EC was "cheating" during the voter list revision process in a constituency in Karnataka ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state.
In an official statement a spokesperson of the Commission said, "The facts, which all citizens of India need to know are that, as far as the electoral rolls of Karnataka Lok Sabha 2024 are concerned, not a single appeal was filed with DM/CEO of Karnataka, a valid legal remedy available to INC under Section 24 of RP Act 1951."
Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka in one of its ‘X’ posts said, "Electoral Rolls are prepared transparently: copies were shared with recognized political parties."
The ECI further said, "If an election petition has been filed, then wait for the verdict of the Hon’ble High Court. If not, then why make baseless allegations now?"
Responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim that his party has "concrete 100 per cent proof" of the EC allowing cheating in a constituency in Karnataka, the EC said it is "highly unfortunate" that rather than filling an election petition as per Section 80 of the Representation of the People Act 1951, or if filed, awaiting the verdict of the high court, he not only made "baseless allegations" but has also "chosen to threaten" a constitutional body.
Rahul Gandhi severely criticised the poll body over the SIR in Bihar, warning the opposition would not let them get away with the exercise in Bihar.
"Not 90 per cent, when we decide to show it to you, it is a 100 per cent proof," the former Congress president said.
"We just looked at one constituency and we found this. I am absolutely convinced that constituency after constituency this is the drama that is taking place ... I want to send a message to the Election Commission -- if you think you are going to get away with this, if your officers think they are going to get away with this, you are mistaken. You are not going to get away with this because we are going to come for you," Gandhi said.
His remarks came after it emerged that during house-to-house visits in the ongoing SIR of the electoral roll in Bihar, poll officials have so far found that more than 52 lakh voters were not present at their addresses.
"Thousands of new voters--aged 50 or 60, or 65--are there in one constituency," Gandhi said.
The opposition parties, including Congress and the Samajwadi Party, have been protesting against the SIR exercise, alleging that it’s an attempt to disenfranchise voters, particularly from marginalised communities. They claim that the process is being used to remove names from the voters’ list, which could impact the outcome of upcoming assembly elections.
"The Constitution of India is the mother of Indian democracy....So, fearing these things, should the Election Commission, getting misled by some people, pave the way for some to cast fake votes in the name of deceased voters, voters who have migrated permanently, voters who have got their votes registered at two places, fake voters or foreign voters, going against the Constitution, first in Bihar, then in the entire country?" Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar asked in a statement.
"Isn't the authentic voter list being prepared by the Election Commission through a transparent process, the foundation stone for fair elections and a strong democracy? On these questions, sometimes or the other, all of us and all the citizens of India will have to think deeply, going beyond political ideologies. And perhaps the most appropriate time for this essential thinking for all of you has now arrived in India," he added.