Is the Election Commission working in favor of the BJP?

The Fundamental Threat to India's Democracy: The Voter List Revision Controversy

The right to vote of every citizen is the backbone of Indian democracy. This is something we often take for granted. But, can you believe that a routine process like voter list revision could turn into a threat to this very fundamental right of ours?

1. This is Not Voter List Revision, It is a Covert Citizenship Test!

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) currently underway across the country is not like the regular 'Summary Revision' or 'Intensive Revision.' It is being carried out as an act to test the citizenship of the voters.

The Election Commission is reportedly asking voters for 13 types of documents, all of which are used to prove one's citizenship. This action is beyond the authority of the Election Commission. The Election Commission doing the work of agencies like the National Register of Citizens (NRC) or the Immigration Department not only questions its autonomy but also raises doubts about its true purpose.

"Does the Election Commission, which is mandated to operate under the Representation of the People Act, have the authority to test the citizenship of a voter? The Election Commission acting beyond its jurisdiction is contrary to the Constitution."

2. Is the Election Commission Working in Favor of the Ruling Party?

The Election Commission is an autonomous body that should function independently. However, its current actions suggest otherwise. The speech notes that after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power, political interference has increased not only in the Election Commission but also in many other key government institutions, including investigative agencies and the judiciary.

Under the Representation of the People Act, the Election Commission is not authorized to test a voter's citizenship. Its action of overstepping its jurisdiction in this manner raises the suspicion that it is acting in support of the ruling party. The very institution meant to protect democracy acting unilaterally is a huge threat to the nation's future.

3. 47 Lakh in Bihar... 1 Crore in Tamil Nadu? - The Scale of Franchise Deprivation

The severity of this voter list deletion drive is not mere speculation. In the recent Bihar Assembly elections alone, the names of 47 lakh people were removed from the voter list.

While the government cites the reason as the removal of infiltrators from neighboring countries, the question remains: "Can they prove that even one person among the 47 lakh removed is from a neighboring country?". The bitter truth is that all the people removed are Indian citizens and the native sons and daughters of Bihar. If this practice continues, the voting rights of about 1 crore people in Tamil Nadu are likely to be disenfranchised.

4. Is Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's Warning from the Past Coming True Today?

When the Indian Constitution was being drafted, Dr. Ambedkar presented a crucial, long-term vision in the Constituent Assembly. He feared that a situation might arise in the future where the voting rights of Indian citizens could be snatched away. As a solution, he insisted that the right to vote should not be kept as a mere statutory right but should be transformed into a fundamental right. Recalling that warning, Mr. Thirumavalavan emphatically establishes its historical necessity by also endorsing the demand of the Father of the Constitution to 'make the right to vote a fundamental right' in this house.

"He put forward the demand to make the right to vote a fundamental right. We are obligated to reflect on how just that demand is in this context."

5. A Farewell to Voting Machines: Should We Return to the Ballot Paper System?

The people must believe that the election is conducted honestly.

As part of this, doubts about the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) continue to be raised. The demand to abandon the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and return to the old Ballot Paper System is gaining strength. When suspicion arises over every layer of the electoral system, from the arbitrary revision of the voter list to the electronic machines, returning to the ballot paper system is the solution to ensure transparency and fully restore public confidence.