Election Commission faces the heat again in Bihar

CHIEF Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s strong defence of the ‘special intensive revision’ of electoral rolls in Bihar just ahead of the October-November Assembly elections has failed to weaken the political storm. The Election Commission (EC) has also clarified that 4.96 crore of the 7.89 crore electors — those enrolled during the last such revision in 2003 or born to them — just have to submit the enumeration form. A fierce debate still rages over the timing of the move as well as its potential to disenfranchise the poor and marginalised. According to Kumar, the objective is to ensure that no eligible voter is left out, and no ineligible voter is included in the rolls. The Opposition maintains that the document requirements could lead to exclusion of genuine voters. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has gone a step further. She claims the move is more dangerous than the National Register of Citizens, and that her state, which heads to polls next year, is the real target.