The fresh criticism comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s sharp observations on the ongoing special voter roll revision
NEW DELHI — In the wake of Supreme Court’s critical remarks on Thursday on alleged irregularities in the ongoing special voter list revision in Bihar, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launched a blistering attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing both of undermining the democratic process through systematic manipulation of electoral rolls.
Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, AAP National Media In-charge Anurag Dhanda alleged that the BJP has made voter list tampering into a pre-election strategy, with the poll body acting as a “silent spectator.” He pointed to a recurring pattern of electoral roll distortion across several states, including Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, and now Bihar.
The fresh criticism comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s sharp observations on the special voter roll revision underway in Bihar, where opposition parties, including the AAP, have raised red flags over massive irregularities.
He claimed that voter list tampering has become a consistent pre-election tactic used by the BJP to distort democratic outcomes.
“The BJP’s manipulation of voter rolls before elections is not a new phenomenon — it’s a pattern. In Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, and now Bihar, we have seen large-scale deletion of genuine voters, inclusion of fake names, and demographic distortions aimed at influencing electoral outcomes,” Dhanda said.
EC Losing Credibility
Dhanda strongly criticised the Election Commission, stating that the constitutional body, tasked with ensuring free and fair elections, is failing in its duty.
“The Supreme Court has now asked the poll panel to respond to issues we’ve been raising for a long time. Yet, the commission has remained a mere spectator. Its credibility is under question, and that is dangerous for democracy,” he said.
He noted that the ECI’s silence and inaction are damaging the institution’s legitimacy, warning that when voter rolls are secretly altered just before elections, the very idea of a level playing field in the country’s democracy is destroyed.
“Citizens must have confidence that their vote matters and is protected. If the Election Commission loses people’s trust, it shakes the very foundation of our democratic structure,” Dhanda asserted.
Highlighting similar issues in several states, Dhanda said the problem was neither limited to Bihar nor new.
“In Delhi, lakhs of names were deleted arbitrarily before the assembly elections. In Maharashtra and Haryana, similar manipulation helped the BJP gain an electoral advantage. Now we are seeing the same signs in Bihar—this isn’t a coincidence, it’s a strategy,” he alleged.
Dhanda claimed that by altering the voter composition—particularly by deleting names from marginalised communities or those seen as opposition voters—the BJP is attempting to rig elections even before a single vote is cast.
Calling for immediate corrective action, the AAP leader put forward three specific demands to the Election Commission:
Stop the Special Voter Roll Revision in Bihar: Dhanda demanded that the revision be suspended until allegations are fully investigated.
Judicial Investigation: AAP called for an independent judicial inquiry into the voter list manipulation, not just in Bihar but across states where irregularities have been reported.
The party demanded regular, publicly available updates on voter roll revisions so all political parties and citizens can monitor changes transparently.
“This is no longer just an opposition issue—the people of India are anxious. They deserve clarity and fairness. The Election Commission must act now to restore its impartiality and credibility,” Dhanda urged.
The AAP welcomed the Supreme Court’s intervention in the Bihar case and urged the judiciary to ensure accountability and transparency in the electoral process.
“We have full faith in the judiciary. But a truly independent and strong Election Commission is equally necessary. We cannot afford to have an election process that is vulnerable to manipulation,” Dhanda said.
The party’s sharp criticism comes amid growing concerns from civil society groups, independent observers, and regional parties about voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractices.
As the political temperature rises ahead of state elections, the integrity of the electoral process has once again become a central issue—one that could have long-term implications for the country’s democracy.
