"Identity of Priyanka Gandhi Sparks Protests in Bihar, India, Over T-Shirt Incident"
In a small rural village in Bihar, a home-maker named Minta Devi has found herself unexpectedly in the national spotlight. Her age, recorded as 124 years in the electoral rolls, has been verified as 1990 after cross-checking her Aadhaar card[1]. This discrepancy has caused a stir, highlighting the challenges of maintaining accurate electoral rolls in a country as diverse as India.
Minta Devi, a resident of Prabhunath Nagar, Chhapra, has expressed her displeasure about her image being used on T-shirts by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a prominent political figure. Her family, who are part of her support system, have appealed to the Election Commission to correct the error as soon as possible to maintain their reputation[2].
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has acknowledged an error in Minta Devi's case, but the specifics have not been explicitly addressed in their defence of the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) exercise[3]. This exercise is aimed at addressing the issue of many "non-eligible persons" having procured voter cards due to the lack of periodic revision since 2004[4].
It is common for Indian electoral rolls to contain incorrect birth dates due to clerical errors, manual data entry mistakes, and challenges in verifying documents during voter registration[1][3]. To rectify such errors, the ECI has established processes such as a "claims and objections" period following the publication of draft electoral rolls. During this period, voters and political parties can challenge inaccuracies and request corrections[1][5].
However, achieving a flawless voter roll in a country as large and diverse as India remains impractical. The focus is therefore on sustaining transparent, iterative, and credible correction mechanisms that build public trust rather than on attaining 100% error-free registers[3]. The ECI encourages voters to proactively report errors and provides multiple legal channels to ensure these mistakes are corrected before final rolls become effective for elections[5].
Despite efforts to maintain accuracy, proof of date of birth is required during voter registration or electoral roll revisions, but this can be a challenge for many due to complex documentation requirements[2]. This issue impacts the accuracy of electoral rolls, as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who collect voter data, often operate under challenging conditions, relying on handwritten records and working with populations that may have limited access to accurate birth documentation[3].
In the case of Minta Devi, her voter ID card records her date of birth as 1900, but her Aadhaar card shows 1990[1]. Minta Devi has requested that her voter ID be corrected, and our website has traced her to ensure her voice is heard.
The controversy surrounding Minta Devi's age discrepancy has raised questions about the Election Commission, with Congress's Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioning the body due to multiple cases of electoral rolls containing fake data[6]. Minta Devi, however, has expressed her sadness about being used politically and made a pawn[7]. She questions the interference of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in her personal matters.
In conclusion, the case of Minta Devi underscores the challenges of maintaining accurate electoral rolls in India. The Election Commission encourages voters to proactively report errors and provides multiple legal channels to ensure these mistakes are corrected. Sustained institutional commitment and voter vigilance are necessary to improve electoral roll accuracy over time.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3] [4] [Source 4] [5] [Source 5] [6] [Source 6] [7] [Source 7]
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