Chief Election Commissioner’s press briefing raises more questions than providing answers to issues highlighted by INDIA bloc: T.N. CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin, on Monday (August 18, 2025), said Sunday’s press conference by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has raised more questions than providing answers to the issues highlighted by the INDIA bloc on “vote theft.”

“The following questions arise: How can there be so many deletions of eligible voters when house-to-house enumeration was undertaken?,” he asked in a post on X. “The enrolment of new voters is abnormally low. Were these young voters enumerated? Has any database been compiled to show how many youngsters who turned 18 on the qualifying date were included?,” Mr. Stalin questioned.

The Chief Minister said the procedure for enquiry and two appeals, along with their timelines as contemplated under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, may exclude a huge number of voters in the forthcoming elections in Bihar. “Is the Election Commission of India (ECI) going to address this issue?” he further asked.

Mr. Stalin went on to question if the ECI will take these practical difficulties into account while conducting Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in other States. 

“On 17/07/2025, we requested the ECI to delete the names of deceased voters from the rolls by undertaking the exercise contemplated in its 01/05/2025 notification. When will this be done? What prevents the ECI from enlisting Aadhaar as one of the acceptable documents to prove a voter’s claim? If ‘Fair Elections’ is truly the aim of the ECI, why can’t it be more transparent and voter-friendly?,” he posed.