“Shocking situation”: Shashi Tharoor on electoral roll row
Shashi Tharoor calls the electoral roll revision process a shocking denial of democratic rights and alleges irregularities in the Election Commission.
Congress Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has launched a scathing attack on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing the current scenario as a “shocking situation.” Tharoor alleged that the process is effectively denying Indian citizens their constitutional right to vote, calling for an urgent move toward a more accountable electoral system.
Denial of Constitutional Rights
Speaking to ANI, Tharoor expressed deep concern over the systematic removal of voters from the rolls. He emphasized that the right to vote is a guaranteed democratic right under the Constitution and should be protected above all else.
"What we're seeing is unfortunately the denial of democratic voting rights to citizens of India," Tharoor stated. "They are finding their right to vote... being taken away. To my mind, this is completely unacceptable."
Allegations Against the Chief Election Commissioner
The Thiruvananthapuram MP leveled serious allegations against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, claiming that unilateral decisions are undermining the democratic process. Tharoor alleged that:
- The CEC has reportedly bypassed the other two Election Commissioners on at least 14 occasions.
- Changes made to the electoral software have stripped electoral officers of the ability to restore voters who were unjustly deleted.
- There are widespread irregularities occurring "left, right, and center" regarding the electoral process.
These claims follow a report by the Indian Express suggesting that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over the last 10 months regarding the SIR process, including issues with voter deletions and database access. While the Election Commission has maintained that all decisions are unanimous and part of standard administrative procedure, Tharoor insists the international community is watching these developments with concern.
Opposition Unity and Calls for Accountability
The controversy has sparked a massive political movement. Major opposition parties, including the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Trinamool Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT), have collectively demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Tharoor noted that the Congress Working Committee is scheduled to meet on September 29 to discuss the issue, with opposition parties aiming to form a united front. He made a direct appeal to BJP supporters and leaders, stating that any committed Indian Democrat should support the demand for an accountable system to ensure Indian elections remain a source of national pride.
Adding to the tension, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal responded to Union Minister JP Nadda, asserting that the objections raised by the two Election Commissioners validate the claims made by Rahul Gandhi regarding the poll panel's functioning.