Page 11 - Election Commission

To SIR, with reservations: The TDP-BJP test in the monsoon session

Now, with an alliance with the BJP that has yielded two Union ministerships, the TDP is treading softly but assertively

576,000 Bihar electors enrolled at multiple places, 1.2 mn dead: ECI data

According to the EC data, enumeration forms of over 86.32 per cent electors have been collected so far

TDP urges EC for more time, easy inclusion in voter roll revision

The TDP urged the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday to give adequate time to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Andhra Pradesh, saying it should not be held within six months of a major poll and the voters already enrolled in the latest roll be not required to reestablish their identity. The suggestions offered by the BJP ally to the poll watchdog come amid a political row over the ongoing SIR in Bihar as its implementation close to the Assembly polls in the eastern state and the burden of proof on prospective voters in many cases have drawn criticism from opposition parties. "The SIR's purpose must be clearly defined and limited to electoral-roll correction and inclusion. It should be explicitly communicated that the exercise is not related to citizenship verification, and any field instructions must reflect this distinction," a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) delegation told the EC. Batting for the "presumption of inclusion", it said the voters who are alrea

83.66% of 78.9 mn Bihar electors to be included in draft electoral roll: EC

The names of over 6.60 crore out of the total 7.89 crore electors of Bihar will be included in the draft electoral roll, the Election Commission (EC) said on Monday amid the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of the voters' list. The poll authority said with 11 more days left for the last date of submission of the filled enumeration forms (EFs) in the ongoing Bihar SIR, EFs of 6,60,67,208 or 83.66 per cent of the 7,89,69,844 electors in Bihar have been collected after two rounds of door-to-door visits by booth-level officers (BLOs). So far 1.59 per cent of electors have been found deceased, 2.2 per cent permanently shifted and 0.73 per cent were found to be enrolled at more than one place. "Therefore, 88.18 per cent of electors have either already submitted their EF or died or retained their names at one place or permanently shifted out of their previous place of residence. Only 11.82 per cent of electors now remain to submit their filled EFs and many of them have sought time

SC to hear multiple pleas against EC's Bihar voter list revision on July 10

The Supreme Court will hear multiple petitions on July 10 challenging the Election Commission's special voter list revision in Bihar ahead of elections, citing concerns over fairness and feasibility

Protests in Bihar against special intensive revision of electoral rolls

Protests erupted across Bihar on Wednesday against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, as part of which top leaders of the opposition Mahagathbandhan, including Rahul Gandhi, converged in the state capital. The INDIA bloc, of which the Mahgathbandhan is a part, is supporting the nationwide 'chakka jam' called in protest against the four labour codes, but in Bihar the opposition coalition has chosen to also highlight its reservations against the SIR, which allegedly threatens to "disenfranchise a substantial number of voters", barely a few months ahead of the assembly polls, to "benefit" the ruling NDA. Gandhi was joined by RJD's Tejashwi Yadav besides D Raja, MA Baby and Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretaries of CPI, CPI(M) and CPI(ML) respectively, in a giant procession that commenced at the Income Tax crossing, around a hundred metres from vital installations such as the Patna High Court, besides offices of many political parties. The leaders stood atop an

Electoral roll revision: Owaisi says livelihood, not just vote at stake

Calling the process rushed and impractical, Owaisi said even a 15-20 per cent error rate could have devastating consequences for marginalised communities

EC should take cognisance of violent incidents in Bihar: Mayawati

BSP chief Mayawati on Monday said the Election Commission should take cognisance of incidents of violence in Bihar, including the murder of Patna-based businessman Gopal Khemka, for the conduct of peaceful elections in the state. In a post on X, she spoke about the "deteriorating" law and order situation in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls laster this year. "The recent sensational murder of Gopal Khemka, a prominent industrialist and leader of the ruling party BJP, in Patna, has heated up the politics of the state in a new way," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said. "If the Election Commission takes cognisance of this bloodshed and appropriate action right now, it will be better for conducting peaceful elections," she said. Khemka was shot dead by an unidentified armed assailant outside his house in Gandhi Maidan locality of Patna on Friday as he was about to alight from his car. His mortal remains were consigned to flames at Gulbi Ghat in Patna on Sunday. A large number

Bihar electoral list row: Opposition cries foul, CEC says process fair

CEC Gyanesh Kumar says over 100,000 officers deployed for Bihar's voter list revision, last done in 2003; voters can submit documents till July 25 and during Claims & Objections phase

EC's voter verification drive stirs political pot ahead of Bihar polls

While the poll body insists its drive will ensure integrity of electoral rolls, the Opposition alleges it will disenfranchise millions from marginalised sections. Archis Mohan explains

Voter roll updates before polls are legal requirement: CEC Gyanesh Kumar

CEC Gyanesh Kumar has said voter list updates are legally required before elections, amid opposition concerns over the Special Intensive Revision exercise in Bihar

Tender committee set up to evaluate contracts related to election processes

The Maharashtra government has constituted a Tender Evaluation Committee for services under the Representation of the People Act 1950. As per a government resolution (GR) issued on July 4, the panel has been formed to ensure transparency and efficiency in the evaluation of bids for services done through the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. The decision, which was taken on June 17 and formalized through the GR, aligns with the administrative procedures mandated under the Act and aims to streamline the technical scrutiny process for contracts associated with electoral processes, officials said. The GR, published on the state government's official portal, outlines the committee's mandate to evaluate the eligibility and compliance of various service providers participating in the bidding process. "The aim is to establish a fair and methodical evaluation of bids to ensure services like updating electoral rolls are procured through a transparent and competent process," the GR ...

Tejashwi Yadav calls 'chakka jam' on July 9 over Bihar voter list revision

Tejashwi Yadav accuses NDA of plotting to deny voting rights to weaker sections; urges Bihar residents to join July 9 road blockade against special electoral roll revision

Special Intensive Revision in Bihar 'on schedule', says CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The Special Intensive Revision is a focused voter list update exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to ensure electoral rolls are accurate ahead of upcoming elections

Opposition slams EC over special intensive revision of electoral rolls

Congress and its allies accuse the Election Commission of attempting to disenfranchise voters in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections, demanding that it not act on the ruling party's behest

Vote-bandi will destroy democracy: Cong opposes EC's roll revision in Bihar

Leaders of several INDIA bloc parties met the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and raised concerns over its timing, alleging that over two crore voters of the state may be disenfranchised by this mammoth exercise being done just ahead of assembly elections. The Congress claimed that after the prime minister's 'notebandi' (demonetisation) that "destroyed" the country's economy, EC's 'Vote-bandi' in Bihar will demolish India's democracy. Leaders from 11 parties, including the Congress, RJD, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, NCP-SP and the Samajwadi Party, put forth their objections before Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other election commissioners to the special scrutiny of the voters' list. The INDIA bloc parties have been vocal in their opposition to the Special Intensive Revision exercise that has already started in Bihar and is to be carried out in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, which ar

Parties rush to add poll agents in Bihar as voter list review gathers pace

The Election Commission's review of Bihar's voter rolls has led parties to increase their booth agents amid concerns over deletion of names and voter disenfranchisement

Electoral roll a dynamic list, only eligible citizens can be listed: EC

Amid protests by opposition parties, the Election Commission on Monday said the special intensive revision is needed as the electoral roll keeps changing due to a variety of reasons and the Constitution mandates it to ensure that only eligible citizens are part of the voters' list and those not, do not get to vote. Several opposition parties have said that the intensive revision carries the risk of willful exclusion of voters using the state machinery. In a statement, the poll panel said the revision of electoral rolls is must as it is a dynamic list which keeps changing due to deaths, shifting of people due to migration and addition of new voters who have turned 18. "Further, Article 326 of the Constitution specifies the eligibility to become an elector. Only Indian citizens, above 18 years and ordinary residents in that constituency, are eligible to be registered as an elector," it said. The Election Commission said it has uploaded the 2003 electoral roll of Bihar comprising deta

SIR of electoral rolls only to ensure no voter left out: CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The objective of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is to ensure that no eligible voter is left out, and at the same time, no ineligible voter is included in the electoral roll

ECI begins Bihar electoral roll review, says only Indian citizens can vote

The EC has launched a special revision of electoral rolls in Bihar citing constitutional norms; the Opposition claims it targets marginalised voters before polls