SY Quraishi Labels Electoral Revision a Threat to Democratic Rights

Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi has launched a scathing critique of the ongoing Special Electoral Revision, arguing that the initiative serves as a form of administrative tinkering that systematically strips millions of citizens of their fundamental right to participate in the democratic process.

Editorial·July 13, 2026·reads: 3,032

SY Quraishi Labels Electoral Revision a Threat to Democratic Rights

Quraishi asserts that the Election Commission is framing voting as a discretionary privilege rather than the constitutional mandate protected under Article 326. He warns that the current methodology complicates the registration process, creating unnecessary hurdles that effectively disenfranchise eligible voters.

The former commissioner pointed to the recent West Bengal elections as a cautionary example, noting that the removal of 27 lakh names from the voter rolls significantly altered outcomes. This pattern has drawn sharp rebuke from opposition parties across Bihar and Bengal, who question the impartiality of the current revision process and demand greater transparency in how the rolls are maintained.