What is the most significant gift that independent India has bestowed upon its citizens? If you ask anyone, the response will likely be the right to vote. Even after 78 years of independence, we have struggled to provide employment, housing, or adequate education to the majority of Indians. Many still face challenges with food, clothing, and shelter. However, they possess their vote, which grants them status, identity, and significance, and empowers them to seek retribution every five years. With this power, they retaliated against Indira Gandhi for the Emergency, but due to the Janata Party government's ineffectiveness, they returned power to Indira Gandhi. The UPA government's corruption was penalized, and by reducing the BJP's majority in the last Lok Sabha elections, the message was clear that catchy slogans alone do not satisfy hunger. If you lose touch with the people, there will be consequences.
Rich people mostly do not even come out of their houses, whereas there is heavy voting near the settlements. Even if a large number of them are illiterate, they know the value of vote. For them, it is a tool of empowerment. Mukesh Raj, from Bihar's Araria district, who works in North Delhi's Old Seelampur market, says he visits home only twice, for Chhath Puja and elections. He says voting is important. It keeps you in the system. Those who are poor, deprived, and at the bottom of society (and the world's fourth largest economy is full of such people) understand that voting is their only weapon to hold the ruling and oppressor class accountable. During elections, netaji stands at their doorstep with folded hands because of their vote. If they are denied the vote on some technicality or any other pretext, it can lead to not only frustration but also anger.
According to Mukesh Raj, it is crucial for ordinary citizens to remain within the 'system'. This is why the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process initiated by the Election Commission in Bihar has stirred significant unrest. Numerous troubling questions are being raised. On June 24, the Election Commission unexpectedly declared the commencement of SIR to verify legitimate voters in Bihar. With elections scheduled for November, can the Election Commission effectively verify 8 crore voters in such a limited timeframe? This is particularly challenging in a state where many residents migrate for work. Adequate time is essential for the successful execution of such a process, yet it was launched in Bihar amidst the challenges faced by flood-affected residents. Giridhari Yadav, a Member of Parliament from the ruling JD (U), has also expressed concerns, stating that the Election Commission imposed this process without understanding the state's history and geography. Additionally, the conditions set by the Commission for voter list registration are unusual.
Aadhar card, voter identity card or ration card are not among the 11 documents that voters have to show to prove their identity. It is a strange situation that the passport for which Aadhar card is required has been included in the list, but Aadhar card is not! It is surprising that the Election Commission has rejected its previous voter identity card. Those who voted there in 2020 or in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on the basis of voter card are not sure whether they will get the right to vote. According to the 2011 census, 50 percent of women and 40 percent of men in Bihar are illiterate. The situation has improved since then, but most of them do not have the documents that the Commission is asking for. Neither do they have a passport, nor any certificate of birth or caste or education or land or any government office. Former diplomat Pawan Verma, who has also been an MP from Bihar, writes, "The truth is that there is complete panic and confusion on the ground because helpless poor people are demanding their rights". The Indian Express has reported about Ankit Kumar of Begusarai, who lives in Delhi, who says that he wanted to go and vote, but is not going because he has 'only' an Aadhaar card and a voter card which are not valid. He had voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
How much is this excessive? How will the common man prove his citizenship? Legal voters should not be deprived on the pretext of removing illegal immigrants from the list. The job of the Election Commission is to add voters, not to deprive them. The Commission has told the Supreme Court that it is not legally mandatory to provide a list of voters excluded from the draft voter list or to give reasons for not including names. This is true, but will there be trouble if the Commission tells this? According to the Election Commission's own draft roll, a huge 65 lakh names have been removed from the voter list. This amounts to 9% of the total, which is a very large and disturbing figure. After 1977, voters have increased in every election in Bihar, but this year there will be a huge decline. The number of adults is increasing rapidly there, but the number of voters is decreasing! 65 lakhs are those who will be deleted from the voter list, but how many are those who have not been included? Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Qureshi says that the Election Commission should reach the last voter, but here lakhs are being deleted and no reason is being made public.
In the midst of this controversy, Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission of collaborating with the BJP to engage in 'vote theft' during the 2024 elections. He claims that there has been a fraud involving 100,250 votes in the Mahadevpura assembly constituency of the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka. Although Rahul Gandhi has not provided any evidence of the alleged conspiracy between the BJP and the Election Commission, he has presented several instances of voter list manipulation. There are 80 votes registered in a single room, numerous fake addresses, and many duplicate votes. He asserts that this manipulation enabled the BJP to secure this seat. The Election Commission's uncooperative and obstinate stance regarding the SIR of Bihar and Rahul Gandhi's allegations about the Mahadevpura assembly elections is perplexing. While I do not concur with Rahul Gandhi's 'vote theft' accusation, his claims of manipulation should be taken seriously. After all, Rahul Gandhi is not just any citizen; he is the leader of the opposition. His allegations cannot be dismissed lightly. If the commission believes these allegations are unfounded, they should respond with evidence. By repeatedly demanding 'give affidavit,' the commission itself is fostering doubt. Rahul Gandhi is presenting evidence, yet you are asking for an affidavit! Former Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat is correct in stating that the commission should investigate Rahul Gandhi's allegations without waiting for a formal complaint. Whether it concerns the Bihar election or the complaint about the Mahadevpura constituency in Karnataka, evidence should not be dismissed without investigation.
By creating obstruction in every matter, the credibility of the Election Commission is being questioned. Okay, legally you are not bound to tell the names of those who have been deleted and the reason for it, but if you make the list public to eliminate doubts, then what is the problem? Rahul Gandhi has demanded that the voter list be given in digital form so that it can be checked by machine. This is also not being given. A bundle of papers is being handed over, which will take years to check. A clean, transparent voter list in which everyone has faith is necessary for fair and credible elections. The Election Commission should introspect. Democratic institutions are strengthened by transparency. The Commission can end the dispute by providing the data that is being sought, otherwise the problem will keep increasing. 300 opposition MPs have marched towards the Election Commission with their complaints. This is not a matter related to national security that the Commission is refusing to give information. Vote is the basis of democracy. The freedom to vote should not be affected. Erosion of trust in the election process is fatal for democracy. The Supreme Court has also said about SIR that there is a 'lack of trust'. Restoring this trust should be the priority of the Commission. The questions that are being raised should get proper answers. As it was said, justice should not only be done, justice should also be seen to be done.