The questions were once raised by the Opposition. Today, they are being raised from within the Election Commission itself. India’s voters deserve an answer

For well over a year, the Opposition has been asking uncomfortable questions about India’s electoral rolls. We were dismissed as bad losers, conspiracy theorists and politicians unwilling to accept the people’s verdict. That argument has suddenly become much harder to make.

Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and processes within the Election Commission. Their concerns reportedly ranged from decisions taken without their knowledge to changes in voter-registration procedures, deletion and restoration of voters and the increasing centralisation of control over electoral-roll systems.

These are not accusations made at a political rally. They are objections recorded by two members of the three-member Election Commission. The issue is no longer merely what the Opposition alleges about the EC. The issue is what Election Commissioners themselves were saying inside the Election Commission.

Some of what has now emerged should concern every Indian, irrespective of political affiliation. Changes to Form 6, used for registration of new voters, were reportedly described by the two Commissioners as "illegal and unauthorised". They also raised concerns over the centralisation of electoral-roll management and the diminishing authority of officials on the ground.

The case of Goa is particularly revealing.........

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