In an interview to discuss the special intensive revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar, which seems to grow more controversial every day, a former Election Commissioner has said it is “abrupt, aggressive, ambitious and, at this point of time, it was avoidable”. During the interview, Ashok Lavasa repeatedly said that aspects of the special intensive revision would be “unfair” both to voters and the machinery undertaking the task.

Lavasa repeatedly said that the Election Commission has established over the last 75 years a workable procedure for enrolling voters and there was no need to suddenly change the procedure when undertaking this special intensive revision in Bihar. He accepted that in previous decades the Election Commission has not sought proof of citizenship before enrolling adult voters. “If you get into this territory you run the risk of creating a list of people or a class of people who are neither here nor there and they do lose their right of voting which is a constitutional right.”

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.