Former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa says poll body credibility is doubtful

Former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa stated that the trust in the Election Commission of India faces serious doubt due to ongoing disputes over missing voter entries. Speaking at a public meeting in Kolkata, he mentioned that citizens have never experienced such widespread worry about elections before now. He expressed deep sorrow that the poll panel finds itself tangled in so many arguments that citizens now take to the streets to demand the Chief Election Commissioner step down. Mr. Lavasa pointed out that past voter list updates never created this level of panic among the public. He blamed this on unusual steps taken by the commission, pointing to actions like large-scale requests to drop names using specific forms, new queries added to registration forms without official government approval, and fresh labels such as pending legal review.

Reactions

The former official also criticized a remark by the Supreme Court, where the court noted that missing out on voting in a single election is not a major issue since citizens can cast their ballots next time. He called the casual approach of the country's protective bodies toward basic rights deeply upsetting, though he still hoped the election body might win back public trust later. The Kolkata event drew many prominent voices from various fields, including former civil servants, politicians, teachers, media workers, lawyers, and social workers, who discussed the heated dispute over the Special Intensive Revision process, the poll panel, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Actor and activist Prakash Raj sent a video message calling the revision process a severe threat meant to harm democracy by splitting citizens into voters and non-voters. Former West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Jawhar Sircar claimed the poll panel made illegal choices and suggested its members face criminal conspiracy charges even if they step down. Former IAS officer Anita Agnihotri described the revision as a human tragedy, noting that past practice aimed to include every single person, whereas current efforts focus on pushing people out.

Context

Public trust in election management bodies forms the backbone of any working democracy. Voter roll revisions are routine administrative exercises, but changes to standard rules can spark major debates over citizens' voting rights. Leaders and civil servants often debate how strict verification processes should balance administrative order against inclusive voting access.