Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 16: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday issued a pointed reminder to political parties, holding them partly responsible for errors in electoral rolls by failing to act when it mattered.

In a firm statement, the Commission noted that many political parties and their Booth Level Agents (BLAs) did not review the voter lists during the designated window. “Some are now raising objections over discrepancies in electoral rolls prepared even during past revisions,” it said.

The ECI underlined that India's voter roll preparation is a detailed, decentralised process handled by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Once the draft rolls are published, physical and digital copies are provided to all parties and uploaded on the ECI website, with a full month allotted for claims and corrections.

“If concerns were flagged through proper channels during the specified time, Sub-Divisional Magistrates and EROs could have addressed genuine errors well before elections,” the statement read.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and encouraged political parties to continue scrutinising the rolls, saying such efforts are key to maintaining clean and accurate voter records.

This clarification comes amid mounting controversy over alleged voter list irregularities in Bihar. With Congress leader Rahul Gandhi set to kick off his 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' from Sasaram tomorrow, aimed at highlighting these very concerns, the political focus on voter rolls in Bihar is expected to intensify.

The ECI’s message makes clear: the opportunity for correction exists — but only if timely action is taken.