What are the challenges confronting the EC? | Explained

The story so far: At a press conference on August 7, the opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused the election commission (EC) with major election roll manipulations in the election zone of the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka. The pressure of Mr. Gandhi closed the claim of a number of intentional voters roll inconsistency that began by EC with Maharashtra Parliamentary surveys. This was combined with the special intensive revision of the election rolls in Bihar, which was under the judicial examination, and put the survey body in the eyes of an storm.

What is the authority of EC?

The Indian Election Commission is a permanent constitutional organ. The Constitution, the execution of elections to Parliament in EC, and the management, direction and control of the entire process for the legislative body of each state and the Vice President of India. Initially, the commission only had the chief election commissioner (CEC). It was expanded to include two election commissioners (ECS).

Why was there a discussion about the appointment process?

Parliament, EC, the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners (Appointment, Service Conditions and Office Period) Law, a new law dated 2023. In accordance with the new law, ECs were elected by a three -member election committee containing the Prime Minister, Union Minister and the opposition leader. The opposition objected to it, the committee said that the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Union were part of the government and that he could manage 2: 1 in favor of the candidates.

Why is EC’s role in spotlight?

Last year, the alliance of Maha Vikas AGHADİ (MVA) claimed that Maharashtra’s election rolls were added to the election rolls of Maharashtra in October during the period between Lok Sabha questionnaires and parliamentary elections in May. The Congress made the same claims about Haryana, and then the AAM AADMI Party claimed that voter rolls were adjusted in Delhi before the parliamentary surveys. Even if he struggles with these allegations, CEC Gyanesh Kumar announced Sir in Bihar Sir, aiming to clean the election rolls. EC said that the exercise of secrets will be realized nationwide.

At a press conference, Mr. Gandhi claimed that there were large -scale inconsistencies he claimed to help BJP win the seat in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment under the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha in Karnataka. Mr. Gandhi said his party had been doing an investigation that has spread for more than six months before he reached this conclusion. He claimed that the voter list manipulates entries, including repeated voters, invalid addresses and bulk records of votes. Following this, Mr. Gandhi reiterated his request for the machine -readable voter rolls and the request to be provided to all political parties for appropriate verification. EC said that the machine can be read or “text searched” voters for concerns about cyber security. The Supreme Court (SC) approved a petition in 2018 by former Madhya Pradesh Prime Minister Kamal Nath.

When was a revision announced in Bihar?

On June 24, EC ordered election rolls in Bihar almost five months before the Assembly elections. According to Sir orders, every voter, who had not been listed in 2003 voter rolls in Bihar, would have to send documents proving their birth dates and places to determine whether they were Indian citizens. After 1987, the born would have to offer evidence about the history and place of birth of their parents.

However, after the completion of the first stage of Sir exercise, EC published a draft roller that saw a decrease of 65 lakh in the number of voters in Bihar on 1 August. Before Sir exercise, there were 7.89 Crore voters registered in the 2025 election list; 7.24 Crore shifted to the voters after the countdown. EC said that most of these 65 Lakh “Lost” voters were dead; It is registered in two places; He emigrated from Bihar; or cannot be watched. Non -governmental organizations, opposition parties and NGOs approached the Supreme Court that challenged the Sir process.

What did SC direct EC to do?

On August 14, with a temporary order, the Supreme Court directed EC to publish a list of 65 lakh voters, which were not included in the draft roller. A bench of Bagchi of Suria Kant and Joymalia instructed EC to provide reasons for erasing against each name, death, migration, impassable, repeating records. The court also asked EC to accept Aadhaar as a proof of identity to include the name of a voter in rolls.

“The dragging of the Supreme Court to push the basic norms of natural justice and justice in Bihar Sir Exercise to the basic norms of the exercise reflects the weakness to an organization that is proud to collect and count every final vote. Errors can enter the voters lists over time, as EC has emerged, the answer to insulting massively.

What about immigrant voters?

Migrant voters still have to go back to their places to vote. This is suppressing a great cost and participation, Prasanna says. “There is no simple solution for this right now. The solution should be cheap, safe and transparent to work. The solutions working for richer societies and richer immigrants will not work for poor immigrants from states such as Bihar.”

What happened to the political sprinkle?

After Mr. Gandhi’s press conference, he raised the opposition Ante and tried to march from Parliament to the Election Commission Center. When they stopped, they sentenced them to arrest. The ongoing monsoon session of the parliament was almost paralyzed about the demands of a debate in Bihar Sir. However, the government did not accept the request of the opposition. The problem brought the opposition parties together, and the protests will continue when the parliament was re -collected on August 18th.

Rashtria Janata Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said, “We will do this country to protect voters and democracy,” he said. Hindu.

Published – 17 August 2025 02:16