Abdullah Slams EC’s Bihar Voter Roll Revision, Calls it Anti-Constitutional

Farooq Abdullah, the National Conference President, has voiced strong disapproval of the Election Commission’s plan for a special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, calling it unconstitutional. During a party gathering in Kulgam, South Kashmir, Abdullah stated that the revision infringes upon the democratic rights of the people. He asserted that the revision goes against the core tenets of the Constitution, as established by B.R. Ambedkar, which ensures the right to vote for every citizen. Abdullah warned that such actions by the Election Commission could lead to significant protests across the nation. He highlighted the difficulties faced by over 1.5 crore Biharis working outside the state in participating in the electoral process due to registration and documentation hurdles. He further accused the Election Commission of being influenced by political motivations and urged citizens to be wary of actions that undermine constitutional principles. The Election Commission had previously announced its intent to revise the electoral rolls in Bihar, pointing to factors such as rapid urbanization and migration as reasons for the move. The last electoral roll revision in Bihar was conducted in 2003, and the upcoming elections are scheduled to take place later this year.