Sun Mar 23 12:13:31 UTC 2025: **Rajya Sabha MP Calls Election Commission a “Failed Institution” Amidst Voter List Controversy**
NEW DELHI, March 23, 2025 – Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), calling it a “dysfunctional” and “failed institution” that has lost the faith of a significant portion of the population. His comments follow ongoing allegations from the Congress party and other opposition parties regarding irregularities in voter lists.
Sibal, in an interview with PTI, asserted that the ECI has not fulfilled its constitutional responsibilities, leading to a crisis of confidence. He stressed the urgent need to address these issues to safeguard Indian democracy. He highlighted concerns beyond Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), suggesting broader manipulation within the electoral process.
These remarks come after repeated accusations by the Congress and INDIA bloc of widespread issues with voter lists, including excessive additions, unexplained deletions, and duplicate voter IDs. The ECI, while acknowledging these problems, announced on March 22nd that over 4,000 electoral registration officers are holding all-party meetings to address local concerns. The commission is also exploring linking voter IDs with Aadhaar and collaborating with birth and death registration authorities to improve voter roll accuracy. A recent agreement to consult with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to cleanse voter lists followed Congress allegations of suspicious entries. The ECI has pledged to resolve the longstanding issue of duplicate voter IDs within three months. Sibal’s statement emphasizes the seriousness of the situation and the need for immediate reform of the election body.
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