The issue of the Special Summary Revision (SIR) in Bihar has sparked controversy across the country, with opposition parties staging protests over alleged irregularities in the voter list. In a significant development, the Supreme Court recently ruled that Aadhaar cards can be accepted for voter ID linkage, thereby expanding the scope of voter registration.
Reacting to the verdict, AAP leader Anurag Dhanda expressed his approval of the court’s decision. Speaking to India Today, Dhanda said,
“I think today’s Supreme Court verdict is welcome and certainly, all political parties were demanding this, which the Election Commission was consistently denying. We wanted its scope to be widened so that more people from Bihar could vote. Today, the Supreme Court has said Aadhaar card is also permitted. The court also said you can apply online. I think this is an effort, a positive aspect, that more and more people from Bihar will be able to vote.”
The context of the judgment comes after reports revealed that nearly 65 lakh names were removed from the draft electoral list published on August 1, sparking widespread allegations of irregularities and disenfranchisement.
Dhanda Raises Questions on Election Commission’s Role
While welcoming the ruling, Dhanda did not shy away from criticising the Election Commission (EC). He alleged that the EC’s conduct has often raised suspicions of bias.
He said, as quoted by India Today:
“This exposes the Election Commission’s role in favour of the BJP. AAP has always claimed that the EC was not acting neutrally. Now it has to, because this order shows how the BJP interfered in voter lists to swing elections in its favour. In the Delhi elections too, we gave hundreds of examples. The EC’s role is highly questionable, as it has always helped the BJP and never acted on complaints.”
The Supreme Court’s decision is expected to give relief to thousands of voters who faced uncertainty after the massive deletions in Bihar’s voter rolls. However, opposition parties, including AAP, continue to demand transparency and accountability from the Election Commission.
