EC Releases List of 65 Lakh Deleted Voters in Bihar; Opposition Threatens CEC Impeachment
Following a Supreme Court directive, the Election Commission released a list of 65 lakh voters removed from Bihar's draft electoral rolls. The EC cited reasons such as death, permanent relocation, or duplicate entries for the deletions. The move has sparked a major political firestorm, with the opposition INDIA bloc accusing the EC of failing to ensure a fair electoral system. The alliance is reportedly considering all options, including an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, whom they accuse of bias.
Unpacked:
The SIR is a process to update and clean the electoral rolls by removing ineligible voters due to reasons like death, relocation, or duplication. It was conducted in Bihar following longstanding demands from political parties to correct imperfections and ensure accuracy in voter lists before upcoming elections.
Individuals can search the district-wise online list by EPIC number or access booth-wise lists at local offices. If wrongly deleted, voters can submit claims for re-inclusion using Aadhaar or other accepted identity documents, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
The Election Commission claims the deletions uphold electoral integrity and responded to political parties’ demands for clean rolls. The opposition alleges bias and potential unfair exclusion, arguing the EC has failed to ensure a fair electoral system and transparency.
The deletions could affect election outcomes by changing constituency demographics, sparking political tension, and raising concerns about disenfranchisement. Transparency in the process is critical, as parties and voters will closely scrutinize the final rolls before the September 30 publication deadline.