Chidambaram Accuses ECI of Power Misuse, Calls for Political and Legal Action

Swift Summary

• Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) for allegedly abusing its powers in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
• He alleged that 65 lakh voters are at risk of being disenfranchised in Bihar, while 6.5 lakh individuals were added as voters in Tamil Nadu under questionable circumstances.
• Chidambaram argued that identifying migrant workers as “permanently migrated” for voter registration outside their home states is illegal and misrepresents their right to vote.
• He pointed out that migrant workers often return to their home states, such as Bihar during events like chhath Puja, emphasizing that they have permanent legal homes there.
• Opposition parties have been actively protesting against the SIR exercise, claiming it is indeed designed to influence electoral outcomes before the Bihar Assembly elections.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The allegations from senior Congress leader P. chidambaram highlight growing concerns over potential discrepancies in India’s voter registration process amid large-scale migration within states. If true, these claims raise significant questions about ECI’s handling of voter eligibility criteria for migrants. Voter disenfranchisement or unlawful additions could impact both regional political dynamics and public trust in electoral integrity across affected states like Bihar and Tamil Nadu.Chidambaram’s remarks also underline broader issues surrounding internal migration rights-whether a mobile workforce can independently retain voting rights tied to their original domicile versus new locations where they work temporarily. The opposition’s protests signal rising political tension ahead of upcoming elections, making it crucial for obvious clarifications by ECI on its methodology.

Read more: The hindu