New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivered an extensive and forceful response in the Lok Sabha to allegations raised by Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on the Election Commission, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and claims of vote manipulation. Presenting a detailed chronology of the Election Commission’s structure, Shah noted that India had no formal law for appointing Election Commissioners for over seven decades and appointments were made directly by the Prime Minister. He said the selection process was revamped in 2023 to include a panel comprising the Prime Minister, a cabinet member and the Leader of Opposition, which he described as a transparent shift in procedure.
Shah dismissed concerns about CCTV footage from polling stations, clarifying that recordings are used only for internal oversight and are legally required to be deleted after 45 days. He questioned why critics do not seek the footage within the mandated period and accused the Opposition of reviving debates on EVMs only after electoral setbacks.
Responding to the broader debate on electoral reforms, Shah accused the Opposition of spreading misinformation on SIR and attempting to cast doubt on the integrity of India’s democratic processes. He argued that the Election Commission, guided by constitutional provisions, has full authority to update and verify electoral rolls and that special revisions have taken place in the past without controversy. According to him, voter verification is essential to prevent ineligible individuals from remaining on voter lists, a process he said some parties oppose for political gain.
Shah countered allegations of “vote theft” by citing historical examples, while adding that electoral losses stem from leadership failures and not from voter rolls or technology. He said that despite repeated public criticism, the Congress has not submitted a single proposal for electoral reform since 2014, nor participated in initiatives like the EVM hackathon organised by the Election Commission.
The debate grew tense as Rahul Gandhi repeatedly interrupted the Home Minister, later calling his response evasive and insisting that key demands such as a transparent voter list and disclosure of EVM architecture remained unanswered. Opposition members eventually walked out, prompting Shah to reiterate that the government will continue its policy of identifying and removing illegal immigrants from voter lists.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi later praised Shah’s speech, calling it a factual and comprehensive defence of India’s electoral framework. The proceedings concluded amid sharp political criticism, heightened tensions and renewed disagreement over the future course of electoral reforms.
