CPI(M) Raises Alarm Over Controversial Electoral Roll Revision

CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby has expressed concern to the Chief Election Commissioner about the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls. He warns of potential errors, disenfranchisement, and constitutional violations, citing suicide incidents and a flawed methodology that disproportionately impacts marginalized communities.

In a move raising eyebrows, CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby has addressed Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, voicing serious concerns over the current Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls. He argued that the process starkly deviates from established legal norms and constitutional guidelines.

Expressing apprehension, Baby highlighted that the rushed timing and methodology of the revision may compromise electoral integrity. Reports of pressure on booth-level officers, even leading to suicides, particularly in West Bengal, have exacerbated his concerns regarding the transparency and efficacy of the revised rolls.

Baby criticized the exclusionary nature of the process, emphasizing its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, including rural women and minorities. The revision resembles a citizenship verification exercise and may selectively disenfranchise voters, a scenario reminiscent of the proposed NRC.