New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has invited political parties to submit their suggestions regarding alleged discrepancies in electoral rolls across the country. The commission announced on Tuesday that political parties can send their inputs to Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), District Electoral Officers (DEOs), and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) before April 30. This comes amid mounting pressure from Opposition parties, who have raised concerns over alleged irregularities in voter lists.
The ECI’s move follows a heated session in Parliament, where Opposition leaders demanded a debate on the matter. On Monday, Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi highlighted alleged irregularities in the voters’ list in Maharashtra, where Assembly elections were held in November 2024. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saugata Roy also called for a revision of the voter lists in West Bengal and Assam ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, however, was not permitted to raise the issue in the Rajya Sabha.
ECI’s Response and Next Steps
The ECI stated that it had already directed CEOs, DEOs, and EROs to conduct regular meetings with political parties and address any issues that arise within the legal framework. Poll officials have been instructed to submit action-taken reports to the commission by March 31. The ECI emphasized that these efforts aim to “strengthen the electoral process” and ensure the integrity of voter rolls.
The statement also addressed the issue of duplicate Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers, which Opposition leaders have flagged as a major concern. On March 2, the ECI clarified that despite the existence of duplicate EPIC numbers, voters could only cast their ballots at their designated polling stations. The commission explained that identical alphanumeric series in EPIC numbers across different states and union territories could have caused this duplication. The ECI has promised to assign unique numbers to resolve the problem.
Political Parties Voice Concerns
Several political parties have approached the ECI directly with their concerns. Delegations from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Trinamool Congress (AITC), and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) met with the commission separately. The BJD suggested conducting an independent audit of the election process, while the TMC focused on the issue of duplicate EPIC numbers.
After the meeting, the ECI stated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that all concerns, including duplicate EPIC numbers, deceased and shifted voters, and illegal migrants, would be addressed at the booth level. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) have been tasked with resolving these issues with the active participation of booth-level agents appointed by political parties.
Following the meeting, TMC MP Kirti Azad expressed dissatisfaction with the ECI’s response. “Are they even aware of the total number of duplicate cards? If not, how can they resolve the issue within 90 days?” Azad questioned.
A Political Standoff
The issue of voter list discrepancies has become a major political flashpoint ahead of key state elections. Opposition parties have accused the ruling party of manipulating voter rolls to gain an electoral advantage, while the BJP has maintained that the ECI’s mechanisms are robust and transparent.
With the ECI now seeking inputs from political parties and setting deadlines for resolving discrepancies, the spotlight remains on how effectively the commission can address these concerns before the next round of state and national elections.
