Invasive Electoral Roll Changes in Bihar,’ Says Dipankar Bhattacharya

Quick Summary

• Dipankar Bhattacharya,general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation,spoke at the 24th N. Narendran memorial lecture in Thiruvananthapuram on issues concerning Indian democracy and elections.
• He flagged concerns about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive in Bihar, describing it as an “invasive reconstruction of the electoral roll.” He warned that similar measures could be applied across India targeting vulnerable populations like migrant workers.
• Mr. Bhattacharya argued that the concept of citizenship is being redefined, forcing people too prove their eligibility to vote, potentially impacting Kerala with its notable migrant population.
• He stated that rewriting electoral rolls in this manner equates to altering election principles and processes.
• The INDIA Bloc was described as essential for resisting what he called a “fascist offensive” by BJP-RSS forces in IndiaS political landscape.
• On ‘One nation,One Election,’ he criticised its potential impact on federalism and democracy by reducing diverse elections to a single narrative devoid of contextual portrayal.

Indian Opinion Analysis
Dipankar Bhattacharya’s presentation raises critical questions about voter registration practices under the SIR initiative and highlights broader democratic concerns for India’s governance system and social cohesion. If such revisions disproportionately target vulnerable groups like migrants, they could undermine trust in democratic systems meant to be inclusive for all citizens-potentially entailing both logistical hurdles and ethical dilemmas around disenfranchisement claims.

Moreover, his critique of ‘One Nation, One Election’ reflects ongoing debates between fostering national seamlessness versus safeguarding diverse local contexts integral to Indian federalism-a tension crucial to preserving India’s pluralistic character amid evolving political dynamics. His call for collective resistance underscores how opposition dynamics are adapting ahead of upcoming challenges on a national scale.

Read More from Source