Protesting Bihar: Minta Devi Criticizes INDIA Bloc over Alleged 124-Year-Old Voter Declaration
In the small town of Siwan, Bihar, a seemingly innocuous error in the voter list has sparked a political storm. A 35-year-old woman named Minta Devi, who was mistakenly listed as born in 1900, appeared to be 124 years old on the draft voter list.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) and the local administration have acknowledged the mistake and are taking steps to rectify it during the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Minta Devi has submitted an application for rectification, and the error will be addressed during the claims and objections phase of the SIR, as confirmed by the Siwan district administration.
However, the opposition, led by the Congress party, has used Minta Devi's erroneous age as a symbol to protest against the ECI’s SIR, alleging it is designed to disenfranchise voters ahead of upcoming state polls. They held demonstrations wearing T-shirts featuring her name and the slogan "124 NOT OUT" and "Our Vote. Our Right. Our Fight," accusing the ECI of voter list fraud and biased functioning favouring the ruling BJP.
Minta Devi herself has distanced herself from the political use of her case, expressing amusement and dismissal of the controversy. She clarified that she simply wants her correct details fixed and is looking forward to voting for the first time. She questioned why she has not received any old age pension despite the roll listing her as 124 years old and blamed the electoral roll for the incorrect entry, as it does not match her Aadhaar card which mentions 15-07-1990 as her date of birth.
The Congress party, led by Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, joined other INDIA bloc members in a protest in Parliament over the SIR issue. INDIA bloc MPs staged a demonstration in Parliament wearing T-shirts with Minta Devi's name and the slogan "124 Not Out."
The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, criticized the ECI for allegedly failing to uphold the principle of "One Man, One Vote." He reiterated his accusation that the ECI has neglected its duty.
There is more unity among coalition partners in the fight against SIR, according to CPI(M) MP P Sandosh Kumar. He stated that the opposition intends to intensify its campaign against SIR.
Notably, prominent leaders such as Nationalist Congress Party's Sharad Pawar, MP Supriya Sule, and DMK's Kanimozhi were seen holding onions during the protest, symbolising the rising cost of living and the alleged impact of the SIR on voters.
Gandhi asserted that the Congress party is committed to protecting the Constitution, with One Man, One Vote being the foundation of the Constitution. Minta Devi, who learned about the issue a few days ago, rejected the Opposition's use of her name and age for political purposes.
In summary, the ECI is addressing the error officially, while the opposition continues to frame it as evidence of systemic electoral roll manipulation. Minta Devi herself distances from political use of her case, focusing on the correction of her voter records.
- The ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, led by the Election Commission of India (ECI), has sparked a political controversy, with the opposition, notably including the Congress party, accusing it of being designed to disenfranchise voters and alleging voter list fraud.
- While the ECI is in the process of rectifying the error with Minta Devi's voter records, various political parties such as the Congress, CPI(M), Nationalist Congress Party, and DMK, have united in their opposition to the SIR, using symbolic protests and slogans to draw attention to their concerns over voter disenfranchisement.
