Priyanka Tiwari
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The Congress party on Tuesday responded to the Election Commission (EC)'s announcement that it would begin technical consultations with UIDAI to link Aadhaar with voter IDs, a move they see as a direct acknowledgment of the party’s concerns about discrepancies in the electoral rolls.
Rahul Gandhi, former Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, stated that the EC’s decision to link Aadhaar with voter IDs came after repeated concerns raised by the Congress and INDIA bloc parties regarding the electoral lists. The party has highlighted several issues including abnormal voter additions, unexpected deletions, and duplicate voter IDs, particularly in the context of the recent Maharashtra elections.
Congress Demands Transparency and Action on Voter List Issues
Gandhi reiterated his demand for transparency, urging the EC to publicly share the electoral photo rolls for the Maharashtra 2024 Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections. He emphasized the need to address voter additions and deletions thoroughly and publicly.
While the linking of Aadhaar may solve the issue of duplicate voter IDs, Gandhi raised concerns about how the poorest and most marginalized sections of society might struggle with the linking process. He urged the EC to ensure that no Indian citizen is deprived of their right to vote and emphasized the importance of addressing privacy concerns in the process.
EC's Acknowledgment of Congress's Concerns on Electoral Rolls
In a statement, the Congress Empowered Action Group of Leaders and Experts (EAGLE) expressed support for the EC’s intention to clean up the electoral rolls using Aadhaar, acknowledging that it was a constructive solution to the issues raised by the Congress. The statement reiterated the party's concerns about dubious voter lists, particularly in Maharashtra, where high voter additions raised suspicions of duplicate, fake, or ghost voters.
The Congress party’s charge pointed to the abnormal increase in new voters in just five months between the Lok Sabha elections and Maharashtra assembly polls. The group stressed that such additions could imply the presence of fake or duplicate voters and welcomed the possibility of addressing these issues using Aadhaar for de-duplication.
Ensuring No Voter is Left Behind
While the Congress supports efforts to clean up voter lists, it emphasized the importance of ensuring that no eligible Indian is denied their right to vote. It called on the EC to consult with all political parties and stakeholders to ensure the process is transparent and that there are proper safeguards in place.
The Congress further emphasized that the privacy of voters must be preserved and that Aadhaar linkage should not compromise this fundamental right.
Aadhaar Linkage According to Law and Supreme Court Directions
The Election Commission, in its statement, assured that the linkage of voter cards with Aadhaar would be carried out in compliance with existing laws and the directions of the Supreme Court. The EC further revealed that technical consultations with UIDAI experts would begin shortly to ensure the process is smooth and effective.
Previous Controversies and Concerns Raised by Congress
The Congress party has been critical of the EC’s handling of the issue of duplicate voter ID numbers, accusing it of a cover-up and demanding transparency. The EC had previously acknowledged the problem of multiple voter IDs under the same name but had stated it would address the issue in a three-month timeframe. The Congress party, however, has maintained that the matter poses a grave risk to electoral democracy and has vowed to continue pushing for a legal and political remedy.
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