BJP Warns Rivals Over Supreme Court Order on Aadhaar and Bihar Voter Rolls
In a recent twist to the ongoing voter registration debate in Bihar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fired a strong warning to its rivals. On Monday, BJP leader Amit Malviya, who heads the party’s National Information and Technology Department, clarified that the Supreme Court’s latest order on Aadhaar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls doesn’t mean automatic voter inclusion just by showing an Aadhaar card.
Malviya stressed that the Election Commission of India (ECI) holds the ultimate power here. "The ECI can verify the authenticity of any Aadhaar card used for voter enumeration at any point," he said. He added that Aadhaar serves only as proof of identity under Section 23(4) of the Representation of People Act, 1950, and the ECI has always viewed it that way. This comes amid growing concerns about voter verification drives in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections.
The Supreme Court stepped in on Monday, directing the ECI to add Aadhaar as the 12th valid document for identity proof in Bihar’s voter verification process. This move aims to smooth out the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, making it easier for eligible citizens to register as voters. However, the court made it crystal clear: Aadhaar proves identity, but it doesn’t confirm citizenship or guarantee a spot on the voter list without proper checks.
ECI’s counsel Rakesh Dwivedi explained the court’s stance during the hearing. He noted that several petitioners pushed for including Aadhaar in the SIR exercise, and the Supreme Court agreed—but only as an identity document. "Aadhaar cards will count for the verification drive, but they can’t act as proof of citizenship," Dwivedi said. This ruling addresses long-standing issues in Bihar’s electoral roll updates, where delays and document restrictions have frustrated many potential voters.
On the other side, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh celebrated the verdict and took a sharp dig at the ECI. As the party’s General Secretary in charge of Communications, Ramesh accused the poll body of ignoring Supreme Court directives repeatedly. "For the third time, the Supreme Court has confirmed that Aadhaar is a valid proof of identity for voter registration in Bihar," he said. "The ECI must face accountability for this blatant failure."
Ramesh didn’t hold back on the ECI’s other hurdles. He pointed out how the commission has rejected Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties, refused Aadhaar as a document, and even sent notices to officials to stick only to its approved list. He also criticized the tight timeline for Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision, which is too close to the state Assembly polls. "These roadblocks are deliberately inconveniencing genuine voters, forcing the Supreme Court to intervene for basic fairness," Ramesh added.
This Supreme Court order on Aadhaar for voter verification in Bihar highlights the ongoing tussle between political parties and the ECI. As Bihar gears up for elections, expect more debates on electoral rolls, identity proofs, and smooth voter registration processes. Stay tuned for updates on how this impacts the Special Intensive Revision drive.
