Election Commission Reports Minimal Political Objections Amidst Allegations of Vote Manipulation
Overview of Claims and Objections
New Delhi: In response to ongoing accusations of 'vote theft' and 'manipulation of voter lists' from opposition factions, the Election Commission of India (ECI) disclosed on Friday that only 117 claims and objections were lodged by political parties between August 1 and August 29.
This figure starkly contrasts with the approximately 212,000 claims and objections made directly by voters.
According to the ECI's bulletin dated August 29, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation) was responsible for the majority of these claims, submitting 108 out of the total 117.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) contributed nine objections, while the six recognized national parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress (INC), and the National People’s Party, collectively filed no claims or objections.
This information comes amidst persistent criticism from opposition parties such as Congress and RJD, who argue that the SIR process is a 'conspiracy' aimed at disenfranchising eligible voters. The SIR process commenced on June 24, with the draft electoral roll being published on August 1.
The deadline for submitting claims and objections is September 1, leaving only three days for additional submissions.
The ECI clarified that generic complaints lacking the required forms are not considered valid claims or objections.
The bulletin further noted that the Election Registration Officer (ERO) received no claims from individuals outside the specific Assembly Constituency, as stipulated by Section 2(g) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Additionally, a total of 211,650 claims and objections were submitted directly by individual electors to ensure the inclusion of eligible voters and the exclusion of ineligible ones. The ECI also recorded 1,136,565 forms from new electors who have reached the age of 18.
The ECI stressed that no name can be removed from the draft list without a formal order from the ERO/AERO following a thorough inquiry.
Individuals with grievances can submit their claims using Form 6 along with a copy of their Aadhaar card before the deadline.