{"id":324526,"date":"2025-01-24T18:06:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T12:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=324526"},"modified":"2025-01-25T19:00:09","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T13:30:09","slug":"election-commission-of-india-eci","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/election-commission-of-india-eci\/","title":{"rendered":"Election Commission of India (ECI)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: This post on Election Commission of India (ECI) <\/strong>has been created based on article \u201c<\/strong>A grey birthday for the Election Commission of India\u201d<\/strong><\/a> published in The Hindu on 24th<\/sup> January 2025.<\/p>\n

\"Election<\/p>\n

UPSC Syllabus topic: <\/strong>GS Paper 2-Polity<\/p>\n

Context:<\/strong> The article critically examines the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, which is also celebrated as National Voters’ Day (January 25). The author highlights the concerns of India’s founding leaders, particularly Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, about the independence and impartiality of the electoral process, and argues that these concerns are still relevant today.<\/p>\n

Why is January 25 significant for the ECI?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. January 25 marks the 75th anniversary of the Election Commission of India (ECI)<\/strong>, which is also celebrated as National Voters Day<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  2. B.R. Ambedkar emphasized the independence of the ECI and the importance of maintaining unbiased electoral rolls during the Constituent Assembly debates in June 1949.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What concerns did Dr. Ambedkar express about electoral rolls?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Ambedkar warned against electoral roll manipulation<\/strong> by the executive.<\/li>\n
    2. His primary concern was identity-based exclusion<\/strong> of voters. However, he also cautioned about the mass inclusion of voters<\/strong> to tilt election results.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      What irregularities occurred in the Maharashtra State elections?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
        \n
      1. The ECI registered 7 crore voters<\/strong> for the 2024 Maharashtra State elections, despite the Ministry of Health projecting the adult population at 9.54 crore<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
      2. The ECI\u2019s figures implied 100% or more voter registration<\/strong> of the adult population, an anomaly compared to previous elections.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        How unusual was voter enrollment for the Maharashtra elections?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
          \n
        1. Between the 2019 and 2024 elections, only 32 lakh voters<\/strong> were added to Maharashtra\u2019s rolls.<\/li>\n
        2. However, in the six months between the 2024 Lok Sabha and State elections<\/strong>, the ECI registered 48 lakh new voters<\/strong>, a 50% increase compared to the previous five-year period.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          What was the outcome of this surge in voter enrollment?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
            \n
          1. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance<\/strong> gained 72 lakh more votes<\/strong> in the State elections compared to the Lok Sabha elections.<\/li>\n
          2. Only 24 lakh voters shifted allegiance<\/strong> from the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi to the BJP alliance.<\/li>\n
          3. This leaves 48 lakh votes<\/strong> unaccounted for, which aligns with the 48 lakh new voter registrations<\/strong> during the six-month period.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Are these new voters legitimate?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
              \n
            1. Questions arise about whether these 48 lakh new voters<\/strong> were genuine:\n
                \n
              1. Were their documents verified<\/strong> during enrollment?<\/li>\n
              2. Why did nearly all of them vote for one alliance?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
              3. The ECI has not provided adequate explanations or released data to clarify these anomalies.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                How did the ECI respond to the allegations?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
                  \n
                1. The ECI has been silent and dismissive<\/strong> of these questions.<\/li>\n
                2. Some argue that opposition parties failed to detect these issues<\/strong>, but the responsibility to ensure fair elections lies with the ECI, not political parties.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  How can the sanctity of electoral rolls be preserved?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                  The use of Aadhaar for voter verification<\/strong> is suggested:<\/p>\n