NEW DELHI: Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding its mandatory ECINet application, labeling it a “disastrous software” and demanding its immediate cancellation. The critique comes amid growing political tension surrounding the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.
Taking to social media platform X, Tharoor expressed deep alarm over allegations that internal dissent among Election Commissioners was ignored during the execution of the SIR process, asserting that the software used to collect voter documentation has actively deprived Indian citizens of their fundamental constitutional rights.
“This is a matter of utmost gravity. It involves depriving Indian citizens of their constitutional rights, alongside withholding essential humanitarian benefits such as dialysis treatment and organ transplants. Political maneuvering is bad enough, but inhumane behavior is completely unacceptable.” says Tharoor on his X handle.
The controversy stems from the ECI’s ECINet portal and mobile application—deployed to facilitate voter registrations, deletions, and document uploads during the SIR drive. Reports recently surfaced indicating that internal objections raised by Election Commissioners regarding procedures surrounding the SIR rollout were bypassed.
Tharoor argued that the technological glitches and procedural overreach associated with ECINet have disenfranchised large sections of the electorate. Calling for accountability, he stated that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the poll panel owe an apology to affected citizens and the nation at large.
“Resignation is the least that can be demanded. Scrapping this disastrous software immediately and rectifying the damage caused is essential,” Tharoor added.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise was initiated by the Election Commission to clean up electoral rolls nationwide by eliminating duplicate, deceased, and non-citizen entries. While the initiative was designed to bolster electoral integrity, opposition leaders have raised severe concerns over widespread deletion of eligible voters and lack of transparency within the commission’s decision-making apparatus.
Tharoor’s sharp remarks reflect a broader push by the opposition demanding institutional accountability and transparency from the poll panel as the debate over electoral software and voter roll verification intensifies in Parliament.
