Ranchi: The CPI (ML) State Committee has strongly criticized the statement made by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in which he reportedly said that the 2003 voter list should be considered the basis of citizenship. The party said that this statement is not only irresponsible but also a clear violation of the constitutional limits of the Election Commission.
CPI (ML) stated that the Constitution, under Part II dealing with citizenship, does not assign any role to the Election Commission. The authority to define citizenship, verify it, declare someone a citizen, or deprive a person of citizenship lies neither with the Election Commission nor with its Chief Commissioner.
The party clarified that while the Election Commission has the right to ask voters for necessary documents during the verification of electoral rolls, it has no authority to decide or reject the citizenship status of any voter. Such statements, CPI (ML) said, seriously undermine the neutrality and impartiality of the Election Commission.
Regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar, CPI (ML) pointed out that the Election Commission has so far failed to prove that the electoral rolls contained the names of any foreign nationals. The party alleged that the entire SIR process and its strict timelines have made poor people, marginalized sections, and migrant workers extremely vulnerable. In recent elections in Bihar, a large number of voters’ names were removed from the electoral rolls, even though many of them had applied for inclusion.
The party further said that people living in forest areas, landless poor families, displaced persons, and marginalized communities often do not possess land or residence-related documents. In such circumstances, the Chief Election Commissioner must clarify how the names of such residents of Jharkhand will be included in the voter list.
CPI (ML) also highlighted that poor sections of society in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha—most of whom belong to Dalit and Adivasi communities—have been displaced due to development projects, mining, and other reasons, forcing them into inter-state and internal migration. The party questioned what concrete measures the Election Commission has taken to ensure that such people can retain their names on the voter list and that their democratic rights are protected.
In conclusion, CPI (ML) demanded that the Election Commission function strictly within the limits of its constitutional mandate and ensure the protection of the most fundamental democratic right—the right to vote.
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