Congress leader urges greater transparency over electoral-roll revisions

Congress Working Committee member N. Raghuveera Reddy has called on India’s Election Commission to provide fuller information about changes made during the ongoing revision of electoral rolls. Speaking to journalists in Vijayawada on Thursday, Reddy said concern was growing across the country about the functioning of the Election Commission and the process being conducted in the name of Special Intensive Revision, or SIR.

He said questions raised by Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi had gained importance following recent reports about the electoral process. Reddy referred to a report by a national daily that, he said, highlighted concerns over the Election Commission’s functioning and the roll-revision exercise. According to Reddy, various reports indicated that more than 13 crore names had been excluded from draft electoral rolls during the SIR process across the country.

He acknowledged that the Election Commission had clarified that the names should not be treated as final deletions because they were still being examined. However, he said the commission should disclose complete details relating to every proposed deletion. Reddy also demanded that all eligible citizens be given a meaningful opportunity to file claims and objections concerning the rolls.

He said public confidence in constitutional institutions was essential in a democracy and that political parties and voters needed assurance that the process was transparent. Reddy called for data on deletions, additions and corrections to be released publicly on a state-by-state and Assembly constituency basis. He also specifically sought publication of information on voters reportedly excluded during the SIR process in Andhra Pradesh, along with steps to restore the names of all eligible voters.