National News: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has made a strong appeal for stricter verification of voter lists in the state. Speaking at a public program in Chirang district, he alleged that in several parts of Assam—especially in areas near the riverbanks—the electoral rolls still contain the names of people who have either passed away or no longer live there.
Suspicion Over 100% Voting Figures
The Chief Minister pointed out that in some of these areas, voter turnout figures show a perfect 100% participation rate. He said this is difficult to believe when the rolls include the names of the deceased and those who have moved away. “When dead people’s names remain on the list, how can voting be genuine? Such statistics naturally raise doubts,” he remarked.
Call for Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
Sarma proposed that the Election Commission carry out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. He also pushed for voter IDs to be linked with Aadhaar numbers. According to him, Aadhaar verification will help remove outdated or duplicate entries from the voter list.
He explained that names often remain in the rolls even after significant life changes. For instance, married women’s names sometimes stay in their parents’ constituency despite their relocation to a new address after marriage. “If these errors are not corrected, the credibility of our elections is at risk,” Sarma warned.
“Aadhaar Link Can End the Problem”
The Assam CM insisted that Aadhaar-based checks would clean up the voter lists and prevent manipulation. “This is the only way to ensure that every vote cast belongs to a genuine and eligible voter,” he said.
Criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s Stand
During his speech, Sarma also took a sharp dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He noted that Gandhi is opposing the special revision of voter lists in Bihar, even though the process is aimed at removing irregularities. “Rahul Gandhi must make it clear—if the voter list is wrong, what is the objection to linking it with Aadhaar?” Sarma asked.
Congress’ Changing Stance Questioned
The Chief Minister accused the Congress party of shifting its complaints over time. “First, they questioned the reliability of EVMs. Now they are making the voter list an issue,” he said.
He further challenged the party by asking how Congress won elections in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana if the electoral rolls were truly faulty.
One Name, One Vote, One Place
Sarma stressed that a person’s name should appear only once in the voter list, in the constituency where they actually live. He argued that linking with Aadhaar would help enforce this rule and prevent double voting.
The remarks come at a time when the SIR process has become a politically sensitive topic in other states as well. While critics accuse ruling governments of using it for political advantage, Sarma maintains it is a necessary step to safeguard the fairness of the democratic process.
