This development comes in the wake of allegations by opposition leaders, notably Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, regarding discrepancies in voter lists across several states, including Maharashtra, Haryana, and West Bengal. Gandhi has demanded a thorough discussion in the Lok Sabha to address these concerns, citing instances of fake entries and identical Elector Photo Identity Card numbers.
The ECI's decision to link voter IDs with Aadhaar is seen as a measure to tackle such irregularities. The Commission emphasized that this initiative would be carried out in accordance with prevailing laws, ensuring that the process respects constitutional provisions and safeguards. The linkage is intended to be voluntary, with citizens having the option to opt out if they choose.
During the recent parliamentary sessions, Gandhi highlighted the urgency of addressing voter list discrepancies, pointing out that such irregularities have been reported in multiple states. He called for a comprehensive discussion in the Lok Sabha to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
In response to these allegations, the ECI has reiterated its commitment to maintaining accurate and transparent electoral rolls. The Commission acknowledged that issues such as identical EPIC numbers have arisen due to past manual mechanisms but assured that these do not indicate duplicate voters.
The technical consultations between the ECI and UIDAI aim to address potential challenges in the linkage process, ensuring that the integration of voter IDs with Aadhaar is seamless and does not infringe upon citizens' rights. The ECI has assured that the use of Aadhaar will be limited to identity verification, aligning with legal provisions and a Supreme Court judgment.