The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday said it has received 1,40,931 claims and objections from voters in Bihar seeking inclusion or deletion of names in the draft electoral rolls published on August 1, adding that only one of the 12 recognised political parties in the state has submitted objections so far.
According to the ECI, aggrieved voters and parties can continue to file claims and objections, along with supporting documents, until September 1.
Of the applications from individual voters, 14,374 have already been disposed of by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), the Commission informed.
EC noted that the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation [CPI(ML)] Liberation is the only political party to have filed objections, submitting 10 complaints related to the draft rolls. Despite repeated appeals, other political parties have not engaged actively in the revision exercise, it added.
Since August 1, as many as 3,79,692 new electors who turned 18 after the launch of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) have applied for inclusion. The EC said that a month-long opportunity has been provided to individuals, political parties, and their 1.6 lakh booth-level agents (BLAs) to flag any errors.
According to data, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has deputed 47,506 BLAs, Congress 17,549, and Left parties over 2,000 — together accounting for more than 67,000 representatives
According to the rules, claims and objections can only be disposed of after the expiry of a seven-day notice period and verification of eligibility by the concerned ERO/AERO. No name from the draft rolls can be deleted without a formal “speaking order” following an enquiry and after giving the elector a fair opportunity to be heard.
The EC said that the list of names excluded from the draft rolls, along with reasons, has been published on the websites of District Election Officers (DEOs), District Magistrates (DMs), and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in searchable mode using EPIC numbers. Aggrieved persons may file claims with supporting documents, including Aadhaar.
Reiterating that error-free rolls are the foundation of a robust democracy, the Commission said electoral rolls for every polling station are prepared strictly in accordance with the law.
The SIR in Bihar began on June 24 based on field-level enquiries by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and BLAs of political parties. Draft rolls were published on August 1 and shared with all 12 recognised political parties in the state.
The Commission has urged eligible electors left out of the rolls to file claims in Form 6 with Aadhaar by September 1. Similarly, objections against ineligible entries can be filed in Form 7. Even non-electors of a constituency may file objections if supported by a declaration or oath, as per the rules.
(IANS)