Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar deployed a scientific fact as an analogy to address political criticism surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise during a speech at an Ahmedabad Management Association event on Thursday. Speaking during his two-day visit to Gujarat, the head of the Election Commission reflected on the intense public scrutiny faced by the institution during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls.
He addressed arguments claiming that higher voter turnout percentages were an artificial byproduct of reducing voters during roll cleanup. He asserted that voter trust in Indian democracy is reflected in historic voluntary turnouts seen across recent assembly elections. Refuting claims that the revision was designed to manipulate voting percentages, the Chief Election Commissioner noted that zero appeals were filed with district collectors following the latest revision exercise. He also urged young people and other citizens to participate actively in the democratic process.
Every eligible citizen aged 18 years or above should register as a voter and exercise their right to vote, he said, adding that greater citizen participation strengthens democracy.
He remarked that “just as the sun rising in the east remains an unshakeable universal truth”, the procedural integrity of the Election Commission remains firm “regardless of political attacks”. “Managing elections across a vast geographical area involving crores of voters is a distinctive feature of India’s democratic system,” he added.
