Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has ignited a firestorm of controversy, accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of abusing its authority in a bid to reshape the electoral landscape of multiple states. The allegations center on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which Chidambaram claims endangers the voting rights of 65 lakh citizens.

In a scathing post on X, the former Home Minister described the voter revision process as "curiouser and curiouser," pointing to reports that 6.5 lakh individuals are being added as voters in Tamil Nadu. Chidambaram labeled this move as "patently illegal" and an affront to migrant workers, who he argues are being misclassified as "permanently migrated." He questioned the logic of denying these workers their right to vote in their home states, such as Bihar, where many return for events like the Chhath Puja festival.

Chidambaram emphasized that voter enrollment requires a fixed and permanent legal residence, which migrant workers maintain in their home states. "How can a migrant worker, whose family resides in Bihar, be considered 'permanently migrated' to Tamil Nadu?" he asked, challenging the ECI’s rationale. He further argued that the Commission’s actions represent a deliberate attempt to alter the "electoral character and patterns" of states, undermining the democratic process.

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The opposition has rallied behind these concerns, staging protests in both Houses of Parliament. They accuse the ECI of orchestrating a scheme to disenfranchise voters in Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, demanding an urgent discussion on the issue.

Chidambaram called for a robust response, urging that the ECI’s alleged overreach "must be fought politically and legally." As the controversy intensifies, the nation watches closely to see how this clash between democratic institutions and political forces will unfold.

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