How do you assess the opposition parties’ demand for inclusion of Aadhaar, ration card, or voter ID card as proof for inclusion in the electoral rolls?For citizens within the context of the 1995 Supreme Court ruling, there may be many other documents to prove and claim that they are genuine voters. For example, if I were born in 1987 and my parents’ names appear in the 2003 electoral rolls, and they have never travelled abroad or do not have a passport, I would become a citizen by birth. Even a certificate issued by a Panchayat or a Municipal body could also be considered for allowing a person to be included in the voters’ list.Unconfirmed reports claim the ECI is preparing to launch a similar exercise in West Bengal in August. Assembly elections there are scheduled sometime next April—your comment.Yes, nearly eight months would be left for the Commission to complete the exercise. However, with experience in Bihar, the Commission can establish some mitigating processes to avoid pitfalls and complete the exercise on time.Can the Commission complete the exercise amid this controversy before the Bihar assembly elections?I am confident of the country’s election machinery. It is well-oiled, highly experienced, and dedicated to delivering results. Starting from the first elections in 1951-52, there was no template of electoral rolls available at that time. According to the Government of India Act 1935, there were only 2-3 crore listed voters, compared to an estimated 17 crore. Even election laws were created at that time. Fresh rolls were created, and the elections were held. At that time, many people could not even read and write, so slips were printed with party symbols, distributed among voters, and they were asked to match the boxes of the parties. The legacy has been strengthened with each election in the country by successive Commissions.
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