Kharge labels electoral roll revision a threat to democratic franchise

The Congress leader pointed to the national scale of the operation, noting that 13.8 crore voters—roughly 14.6% of the national electorate—have been struck from rolls across 31 states and territories. Kharge highlighted that the reach of these notices has extended to senior political figures, including L.K. Advani, the External Affairs Minister, and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, alongside decorated scientists and former naval leadership. Beyond the high-profile cases, he drew attention to West Bengal, where 93% of appeals against voter deletions have resulted in reinstatements, suggesting a systemic failure in the verification process.

Contesting the Election Commission’s recent introduction of "VIP/marked electors," Kharge questioned the constitutional validity of creating tiered categories of voters. He argued that such distinctions undermine the principle of "One Person, One Vote, One Value." In response to the growing outcry, the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi stated that notices do not equate to automatic deletion, asserting that no name is removed without an opportunity for a hearing and a formal, appealable order. Despite this, Kharge maintained that the discrepancy between the commission’s public clarifications for VIPs and the silence regarding millions of ordinary citizens exposes a fundamental bias in the current electoral oversight.