The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of attempting to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) “through the backdoor” via its recently announced Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls in Bihar. The move, TMC leaders claim, is politically motivated and designed to manipulate voter demographics ahead of key state elections.
🗳️ What the EC’s Revision Entails
- The ECI has directed a special voter roll revision in Bihar, aimed at weeding out ineligible names and ensuring all eligible citizens are included
- The exercise reportedly requires voters born between July 1987 and December 2004 to submit birth certificates of both parents as proof of citizenship
- Similar revisions are expected in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal by the end of 2025
⚠️ TMC’s Objections and Allegations
- TMC MP Derek O’Brien called the move a “sinister attempt” to introduce NRC-like measures under the guise of electoral reform
- He likened the documentation requirements to “Nazi-era ancestor passes”, warning that many young voters could be disenfranchised
- West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee echoed the concerns, alleging that the ECI is acting as a “stooge of the BJP” and targeting migrant workers, students, and rural voters
“This is more dangerous than NRC. It’s a scam to delete valid voters,” Banerjee said, urging opposition parties to resist the move collectively
🔄 Political Fallout and Opposition Unity
- The INDIA bloc has vowed to raise the issue both inside and outside Parliament, calling it an attack on democratic rights
- The CPI(M) also wrote to the ECI, urging it to abandon the exercise, citing concerns over shifting the burden of proof onto voters
📌 Why It Matters
- Sparks a nationwide debate on voter verification and citizenship documentation
- Raises concerns about electoral transparency, disenfranchisement, and political misuse of administrative tools
- Could significantly impact voter turnout and trust in upcoming state elections
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