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3w ago

Congress Seeks Digital Voter Rolls and Poll Footage as ECI Starts Bihar Roll Revision

The opposition has demanded machine-readable Maharashtra voter lists to substantiate its malpractice claims following unexpected voter increases

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addresses a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday | PTI
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Congress leader Pawan Khera pointed out a five-month gap between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Maharashtra, during which 40 lakh new voters were added, raising questions about the integrity of the electoral roll.

Overview

  • The Congress party has formally asked the Election Commission to provide a digital, machine-readable copy of Maharashtra’s voter lists and polling day video footage from Maharashtra and Haryana within one week ahead of scheduled talks.
  • Election Commission sources have rejected the demand for a machine-readable roll as “not tenable” under existing law, referencing a 2019 Supreme Court verdict on text-mode electoral data.
  • The poll panel says draft and final electoral rolls were shared with all recognised parties during the 2024 revisions and remains open to meeting Rahul Gandhi to discuss any residual concerns.
  • On June 25, the ECI launched a special intensive revision of Bihar’s electoral rolls to address rapid urbanisation, migration and potential inclusion of non-citizens, with plans to extend the exercise to five more states before 2026 polls.
  • CPI(ML) Liberation and other critics warn that the accelerated revision in Bihar could disenfranchise millions unable to meet documentation requirements during the monsoon-season campaign.