Congress Challenges Election Commission's Voter List Revision Timeline
The Congress party has strongly criticized the Election Commission's decision to grant only a seven-day extension for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' lists in Chhattisgarh, labeling it as completely inadequate for addressing the ground realities. The state unit has formally demanded a three-month extension to ensure comprehensive voter enrollment.
Multiple Challenges Hamper Voter Registration Process
Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij revealed that the party has submitted a detailed memorandum to the State Election Commission outlining several critical factors making the current timeline unworkable. The ongoing paddy harvesting and procurement season has emerged as a major obstacle, as it significantly limits villagers' availability to complete the necessary documentation processes.
Adding to the complexity, large-scale migration of workers from districts including Bilaspur, Mungeli, Janjgir-Champa, Jashpur, and parts of Bastar has created additional challenges. Baij attributed this exodus to the suspension of MNREGA works, forcing many residents to seek employment outside the state during this critical period.
Natural Disasters and Conflict Displacement Compound Problems
The situation has been further exacerbated by recent natural calamities. Essential documents of numerous residents in the Bastar region were either washed away or severely damaged during the recent devastating floods, creating significant hurdles in the verification process.
Perhaps the most complex challenge involves over 600 villages in Bastar region where residents have been displaced due to Naxal violence. Many of these individuals have been living in neighboring states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for years, making their documentation within a short timeframe particularly challenging.
Baij emphasized that expecting these displaced populations to complete their voter registration within the current compressed schedule presents a significant logistical challenge that could potentially disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters.
