The Frankenstein Monster in Delhi’s Electoral Rolls

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has been a vocal critic of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. His recent broadside against the exercise is not merely rhetorical hyperbole, but a well-founded concern about a process that began in Bihar with the goal of removing ineligible voters from the rolls.

The list of prominent individuals issued notices by the Election Commission includes BJP veterans like Lal Krishna Advani and external affairs minister S Jaishankar. Entire families and households have been caught up in the SIR maelstrom, which bears all the hallmarks of a carefully calibrated effort to disenfranchise large sections of the population.

Kharge’s comparison of SIR to Frankenstein’s monster is not entirely fanciful. Like Mary Shelley’s creature, SIR has been created by human ingenuity but now seems to be running amok, threatening its creators and their loved ones. The Congress president’s accusation that SIR is a tool used by the BJP for vote theft and dismantling democracy resonates with many who have followed this saga closely.

One of the most insidious aspects of SIR is its implicit recognition of a hierarchy of voters in India. The Election Commission’s reference to “VIP/marked electors” is a stark reminder that, in our supposedly universal adult franchise, some citizens are more equal than others. This raises questions about the fundamental principle of one person, one vote, one value.

The situation in West Bengal is a particularly galling example of how SIR can be used as a tool for voter suppression. According to Election Commission data submitted before the Supreme Court, over 1.26 lakh appeals against exclusion had been decided – an eye-watering number that raises more questions than it answers about the competence and impartiality of our electoral authorities.

Critics have long pointed out that SIR is a flawed exercise ripe for abuse by those who would seek to manipulate the electoral rolls. Kharge’s assertion that Congress had been warning against this outcome since day one adds to the chorus of voices calling for greater transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

If SIR continues unchecked, it risks creating a climate of fear among voters, particularly those from marginalized communities who have historically faced barriers in accessing their franchise. The consequences could be far-reaching – not just in terms of electoral outcomes but also in terms of the very fabric of our society.

The SIR controversy serves as a stark reminder that our electoral processes are only as good as the men and women tasked with upholding them. As Kharge put it, “SIR is not just a tool used by the BJP for vote theft and dismantling democracy; it’s a flawed process that has turned into a Frankenstein Monster, now trapping its own people.” If we are to salvage our electoral system from this monstrous creation, we must first confront the rot at its core.