Sachin Pilot Accuses Election Commission of “Unprecedented Haste” and Bias in Voter Deletions During Special Revision Drive

Jaipur, Nov 29: Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Saturday sharply criticised the Election Commission (EC), alleging that its handling of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has created an atmosphere of fear and confusion across several states. He claimed that voter deletions—particularly of the poor, Dalits, tribals, backward classes, and citizens with limited education—are taking place on a “massive and alarming scale,” raising serious concerns about the impartiality of the constitutional body.

Addressing the media in Jaipur, Pilot said that SIR exercises have been conducted many times in the past, but never before have they been marked by such widespread anxiety among the public. “For the first time, the attitude and approach of the Election Commission have created apprehension among citizens. People are worried, unsure, and deeply stressed,” he said.

Pilot highlighted incidents from Bihar, where he alleged names were struck off abruptly, and said similar patterns are now being observed in other states. The hurried pace of the verification process, he argued, has left ordinary voters with very little time to understand the notices they received or respond with the necessary documentation.

“People across many states are under stress. Some are even resorting to extreme steps because they fear losing their right to vote. This itself shows that serious irregularities are taking place,” Pilot added.

Emphasising the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission, he said that the task of maintaining and purifying voter lists lies solely with the EC—not with any political party. He urged the Commission to uphold its reputation for neutrality and fairness.

“The Congress Party wants to ensure that the most marginalised citizens—poor families, Dalits, tribals, elderly voters, and those lacking access to information—are not unfairly removed from electoral rolls. We will not allow this injustice,” he asserted.

Pilot stated that the Congress is conducting a nationwide campaign to help citizens verify their voter status and ensure that no eligible voter above 18 years of age is deprived of their franchise. He warned the Election Commission that working under political pressure, ideological influence, or government directives would destroy public confidence in the institution.

Addressing a separate press conference in Tonk, Pilot accused the EC of showing the same “undue haste” in Rajasthan that it displayed in Bihar during the SIR process. He referred to recent statements by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, who alleged that infiltrators were being protected and that their names needed to be removed from voter lists.

Responding strongly, Pilot said, “If there are infiltrators living illegally in India, remove them. The Congress has never opposed lawful action. But the public deserves answers: how many infiltrators has the Indian government expelled in the last 11 years?”

He claimed that as elections approach, the BJP is using the narrative of infiltrators to justify widespread deletion of votes belonging to marginalised groups. “The attempt is to cut the votes of the poor, Dalits, backward classes, tribals, destitute, and uneducated—while hiding behind the excuse of targeting infiltrators,” he alleged.

Stating that the Constitution grants every citizen the fundamental right to vote, Pilot said, “If someone’s name is removed unjustly, it is one of the greatest sins in a democracy.”

He further asserted that the impartiality of the Election Commission—whose primary duty is to ensure free, fair, and fraud-free elections—is now under scrutiny. However, he added that Congress workers at every level are actively ensuring that eligible voters retain their rights.

“It is painful to see millions of names being deleted, most of them belonging to the poorest citizens. The Congress Party stands firmly with them and will fight to protect their voting rights,” Pilot said.

He concluded by warning that if institutions responsible for protecting the Constitution fail to remain neutral, the public’s trust will erode—and once that trust is broken, democratic processes suffer.