India’s Election Commission (ECI) is currently facing scrutiny amid allegations concerning its credibility. Opposition parties have accused the ECI of various electoral malpractices, including voter fraud and the manipulation of electoral rolls—claims that the ECI has denied. In light of these allegations, opposition leaders have contemplated an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, although such a motion has not been filed and lacks sufficient support to succeed.
In a notable development, Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Congress party, has initiated a 16-day “Voter Rights March” in Bihar. This march, spanning approximately 1,300 kilometers, has arisen in response to grievances regarding the recent revision of electoral rolls, particularly in anticipation of the state’s upcoming key elections. Gandhi alleges that the ECI has colluded with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to influence the upcoming 2024 general elections, claiming that there are over 100,000 fraudulent voters in a Karnataka constituency, among other issues.
The ECI has consistently called these allegations misleading. Accusations have emerged regarding the process used to create the draft electoral rolls, which indicated a reduction of 6.5 million names, sparking concerns that many legitimate voters could have been disenfranchised due to cumbersome documentation requirements. Subsequent reports highlighted errors in the new electoral lists, which the ECI claims aimed to rectify long-standing inaccuracies.
Criticism of the ECI’s transparency has intensified, culminating in a recent court directive that mandated the publication of clearer lists of omitted voters. The court’s response has raised questions about the ECI’s procedural integrity. Amidst escalating tensions, Gandhi’s initiative and the context of the Bihar elections suggest this issue will remain prominent as public trust in the ECI is reportedly decreasing, with surveys indicating a significant drop in confidence among constituents since 2019.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9w43p7741o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss