Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 18: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to proceed with linking Voter ID cards (EPIC) with Aadhaar to eliminate ineligible voters, including illegal immigrants, after consulting experts from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshim, met with officials from the Union Home Ministry, UIDAI, and other departments on Tuesday to discuss the technical and legal framework for the initiative.

The ECI clarified that while voting rights are reserved for Indian citizens under Article 326 of the Constitution, an Aadhaar card only serves as proof of identity. The linkage will follow constitutional provisions and legal guidelines, including the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and relevant Supreme Court judgments.

Following the decision, technical discussions between UIDAI and ECI experts will commence soon to ensure smooth implementation.

The move comes amid allegations by opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, regarding duplicate and bogus entries in voter rolls.

Currently, linking Aadhaar with voter IDs is voluntary, and citizens are not legally required to provide Aadhaar details. However, the ECI is engaging political parties to strengthen electoral processes.

The Commission has set an April 30 deadline for political parties to submit concerns about voter roll discrepancies. It has also invited direct consultations with party leaders to address issues within the existing legal framework.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar recently instructed election officials nationwide to conduct regular discussions with political parties and submit reports on action taken by March 31. The ECI emphasized that political parties are key stakeholders in ensuring fair and transparent elections.