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Election Commission Defends Voter Roll Cleanup, Urges Youth Participation

The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar strongly defended the Special Intensive Revision exercise, stating it was conducted to ensure pure electoral rolls by including all eligible voters and excluding ineligible ones. He appealed to first-time voters, calling elections a "festival of democracy," and urged their participation. The announcement follows political controversy, including accusations from PM Modi against the TMC and an impeachment motion filed by the TMC against the CEC.

Key Points: EC Defends Voter Roll Revision, Announces State Polls

  • EC defends Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls
  • Polls announced for 4 states & Puducherry
  • CEC urges first-time voters to participate
  • SIR aimed to include eligible, exclude ineligible voters
  • TMC has moved impeachment motion against CEC
2 min read

SIR ensured no eligible elector is left out, no ineligible elector is included in rolls: CEC

CEC Gyanesh Kumar asserts Special Intensive Revision ensures pure electoral rolls as EC announces elections in four states and Puducherry.

"Pure electoral rolls are the bedrock of free and fair elections. - CEC Gyanesh Kumar"

New Delhi, March 15

The Election Commission of India, while announcing the polling schedule for four states and one Union Territory, came out in strong defence of the Special Intensive Revision exercise undertaken in about a dozen states.

"Pure electoral rolls are the bedrock of free and fair elections. The SIR was conducted to ensure that no eligible elector is left out and no ineligible elector is included in rolls," said the Chief Election Commission (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar while briefing the press on impending elections.

Accompanied by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, the CEC Gyanesh Kumar said that the elections in four states and the Union Territory represent the distinct geographical and cultural landscape of India.

He said that the elections celebrate the cultural richness and reflect the country's unity and diversity, and urged everyone, particularly the first-time voters, to participate in the celebration of democracy.

Making a special appeal to the first-time voters, he said, "You are about to step into one of the most important roles of life. I urge you to participate in democratic exercise and cast your vote."

"Chunaav ka parv, hum sabka garv", elections in India are festival of democracy," he added.

The Assembly elections are slated to be held in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.

Notably, the EC announcement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Kolkata.

The Prime Minister accused the ruling Trinamool Congress government of trying to protect "infiltrators" during the recently concluded Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Also, TMC has moved an impeachment motion against the CEC, accusing the polling body of bias during the SIR drive. A notice to this effect was also submitted in both Houses of Parliament, backed by the opposition parties.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As a first-time voter from Tamil Nadu, I'm excited! The CEC's message is inspiring. It's our duty to participate. Hope the rolls are truly error-free so every young voice like mine counts.
R
Rohit P
The timing is suspicious. SIR in select states right before elections, and then PM's rally the day before EC announcement? The EC must work doubly hard to prove its impartiality now. Trust is key.
S
Sarah B
Working in governance here, I appreciate the technical challenge. Verifying millions of names across diverse regions like Assam and Kerala is a massive task. Hope they used tech effectively to prevent errors.
V
Vikram M
The EC is in a tough spot with accusations from both sides. But their core job is clear: ensure a fair poll. Let's focus on voting, not the political noise. Jai Hind!
K
Kavya N
My didi in West Bengal said many genuine voters faced issues during the revision. The intention is good, but implementation on the ground must be careful. No citizen should lose their right to vote.

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