The Crossbill News Desk
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) has sharply criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the poll body misrepresented the views of political parties regarding the ongoing revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
The party has also cautioned the commission against what it described as attempts to align the electoral process with the interests of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh–Bharatiya Janata Party (RSS-BJP) combine.
In a letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday (March 11), the CPI(M) West Bengal state committee objected to the commission’s press release issued on March 9 regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to the party, the statement created a misleading impression that most political parties had welcomed the exercise.
Calling the claim a “travesty of the truth,” the CPI(M) said the commission had failed to disclose the names of political parties that had supported or opposed the process while projecting an impression of broad consensus.
“The most contentious part of the statement was your claim that ‘most political parties appreciated’ the massive Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The commission further stated that parties expressed ‘complete faith and trust’ in the process and its objective of ensuring a pure electoral roll where no eligible voter is left out. It is a travesty of the truth to withhold the names of the political parties who voiced their appreciation and those who stood in opposition,” the CPI(M) wrote.
The party also stated that it had repeatedly communicated its concerns about the revision exercise to the commission through formal submissions as well as during meetings with the full bench.
“The CPI(M) has consistently conveyed its grave reservations both in writing and during oral depositions before the full bench of the commission. It is therefore startling that a constitutional body of your stature would issue a statement that so blatantly overlooks our documented dissent.”
According to the party, the ongoing process has placed more than 60 lakh voters in West Bengal in a position of uncertainty regarding their voting rights due to what it described as an opaque verification mechanism that raises questions over voter eligibility on the basis of logical discrepancies.
The letter, signed by CPI(M) West Bengal state secretary Md. Salim, warned the commission against any effort to manipulate the electoral rolls to suit the ideological agenda of the RSS-BJP combine, stating that such actions would undermine the constitutional responsibilities of the poll body.
“We demand that no eligible voter be disenfranchised based on political, religious, social affiliations or on economic standing. Any attempt to tailor the electoral rolls to suit the ideological agenda of the RSS-BJP combine is a violation of the commission’s constitutional mandate,” the party wrote.
The CPI(M) further described the current situation as an administrative failure on the part of the commission. It alleged that the role of certain officials in West Bengal, whom it accused of acting in favour of the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), had further complicated the process.
Pointing to what it called the unprecedented intervention of the judiciary in the scrutiny of documents related to the revision exercise, the party claimed that serious lapses had occurred in the implementation of the process.
The CPI(M) urged the Election Commission to correct what it termed as misinformation and ensure that the revision of electoral rolls is carried out in a transparent, fair and inclusive manner. It also appealed to citizens to remain alert and safeguard their democratic rights and electoral franchise.
The party has also cautioned the commission against what it described as attempts to align the electoral process with the interests of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh–Bharatiya Janata Party (RSS-BJP) combine.
In a letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday (March 11), the CPI(M) West Bengal state committee objected to the commission’s press release issued on March 9 regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to the party, the statement created a misleading impression that most political parties had welcomed the exercise.
Calling the claim a “travesty of the truth,” the CPI(M) said the commission had failed to disclose the names of political parties that had supported or opposed the process while projecting an impression of broad consensus.
“The most contentious part of the statement was your claim that ‘most political parties appreciated’ the massive Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The commission further stated that parties expressed ‘complete faith and trust’ in the process and its objective of ensuring a pure electoral roll where no eligible voter is left out. It is a travesty of the truth to withhold the names of the political parties who voiced their appreciation and those who stood in opposition,” the CPI(M) wrote.
The party also stated that it had repeatedly communicated its concerns about the revision exercise to the commission through formal submissions as well as during meetings with the full bench.
“The CPI(M) has consistently conveyed its grave reservations both in writing and during oral depositions before the full bench of the commission. It is therefore startling that a constitutional body of your stature would issue a statement that so blatantly overlooks our documented dissent.”
According to the party, the ongoing process has placed more than 60 lakh voters in West Bengal in a position of uncertainty regarding their voting rights due to what it described as an opaque verification mechanism that raises questions over voter eligibility on the basis of logical discrepancies.
The letter, signed by CPI(M) West Bengal state secretary Md. Salim, warned the commission against any effort to manipulate the electoral rolls to suit the ideological agenda of the RSS-BJP combine, stating that such actions would undermine the constitutional responsibilities of the poll body.
“We demand that no eligible voter be disenfranchised based on political, religious, social affiliations or on economic standing. Any attempt to tailor the electoral rolls to suit the ideological agenda of the RSS-BJP combine is a violation of the commission’s constitutional mandate,” the party wrote.
The CPI(M) further described the current situation as an administrative failure on the part of the commission. It alleged that the role of certain officials in West Bengal, whom it accused of acting in favour of the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), had further complicated the process.
Pointing to what it called the unprecedented intervention of the judiciary in the scrutiny of documents related to the revision exercise, the party claimed that serious lapses had occurred in the implementation of the process.
The CPI(M) urged the Election Commission to correct what it termed as misinformation and ensure that the revision of electoral rolls is carried out in a transparent, fair and inclusive manner. It also appealed to citizens to remain alert and safeguard their democratic rights and electoral franchise.
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