The Congress on Thursday criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) after the poll body decided to provide readable electoral rolls to political parties for the first time, describing the move as “too little, too late”.
Congress general secretary in-charge of organisation K C Venugopal targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the damage caused under the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah could not be undone through a notification announcing the change.
“Gyanu, it's not enough bro. You must resign and turn approver. The damage you have done under Modi-Shah's instructions will not be undone by now doing a U-Turn via notification,” Venugopal said.
He said the Congress had been demanding machine-readable electoral rolls since 2025, arguing that transparency was a basic requirement and should not be presented as absolving the Commission of its previous actions.
“The massive ‘vote chori’ that has disenfranchised 13 crore Indians is an ‘act of treason’,” Venugopal alleged.
He called on the Chief Election Commissioner to step aside and demanded comprehensive electoral reforms, including a reversal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and changes to the process of appointing Election Commission officials.
“Too little, too late,” he added.
The Congress's criticism came as the Election Commission on Thursday ordered the annual Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in 17 states and Union Territories, including areas scheduled to hold Assembly elections early next year.
The final electoral rolls in these states and Union Territories are scheduled to be published on January 4.
A senior Election Commission official said the SSR is an annual exercise mandated under election law and is conducted specifically in states where elections are approaching.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has already been completed in the 17 states and Union Territories covered by the latest exercise. Assam underwent a special revision instead of the SIR due to legal reasons.
For the first time, political parties will receive readable versions of the electoral rolls at both the draft and final stages, in hard-copy and digital formats.
Candidates in poll-bound states will also be provided with the draft and final electoral rolls. In addition, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) will make the rolls available for purchase to other individuals ahead of the elections.
The Commission will also encourage young people who turn 18 on or before January 1, 2027, to submit enrolment forms so they can register as voters ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
The initiative is expected to help eligible first-time voters participate in elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur and Punjab. (with inputs from PTI)