**Title:** Shashi Tharoor Advocates for Transparent Electoral Roll Revisions
**Meta Description:** Congress MP Shashi Tharoor supports the Election Commission’s electoral roll revisions, emphasizing transparency to enhance public trust in elections.
**URL Slug:** shashi-tharoor-electoral-roll-revisions
**Headline:** Shashi Tharoor Supports Transparent Revisions of Electoral Rolls to Boost Public Confidence
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed his backing for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being undertaken by the Election Commission of India. He stressed the importance of conducting this process transparently to foster public confidence in the integrity of elections. Tharoor’s comments come amid criticism from his own party and opposition groups, who argue that the revisions could disenfranchise voters ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.
In an interview, Tharoor acknowledged the imperfections in the current electoral rolls, noting issues such as duplicate entries, deceased individuals still listed, and voters registered at multiple addresses. “Everyone who has participated in elections knows that the electoral rolls are not perfect. There are duplicates, deceased voters, and living voters who are not registered. Additionally, there are individuals who have moved and may be registered at multiple addresses,” he stated. He emphasized that while these issues have existed, they need to be addressed, especially if they occur on a large scale.
Tharoor suggested that modern digital technologies could enhance the efficiency and reliability of updating electoral rolls. He proposed that an SIR could be conducted annually, utilizing algorithms to identify duplicates and resolve discrepancies, thereby reinforcing the credibility of the voter list. “It’s in the interest of the Election Commission’s credibility that no voter should doubt the fairness of the election. While perfection may not be achievable, we can certainly respond fairly to the legitimate concerns raised by the opposition,” he added.
In addition to his support for electoral reforms, Tharoor also endorsed the recent overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure by the Centre, calling it a move towards a more equitable system. “We in the Congress party have been advocating for this for many years. I believe it’s a much fairer system that will benefit everyone,” he remarked. The government has introduced a simplified two-tier GST system with rates of 5% and 18%, eliminating the previous 12% and 28% slabs, set to take effect from September 22.
The recent SIR exercise in Bihar resulted in the removal of 6.5 million names from the draft electoral list during its initial phase. This included 2.5 million due to migration, 2.2 million as deceased, 970,000 as “not found” at their addresses, and 700,000 for being registered in multiple constituencies. The deadline for filing claims for inclusion or exclusion from the draft list was August 31, with the final electoral roll scheduled for publication on September 30.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?**
A: The SIR is a process conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and correct electoral rolls, ensuring that they accurately reflect eligible voters and address issues like duplicate entries and deceased individuals.