Indian Voting Rights Battle Shakes World’s Biggest Democracy

The Indian election system is in turmoil as over 130 million voters have been removed from the electoral rolls, sparking widespread protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Election Commission claims these exclusions are due to factors like death, duplicate entries or lack of traceability, but critics argue the process could unfairly target specific demographics, potentially benefiting Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

Maya Devi, an informal settlement resident in Delhi, is one of the millions affected, stating she and her family are shocked to have lost their voting rights. Legal experts warn the Special Intensive Revision process disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations, questioning its fairness. Political analysts suggest the removals could have shifted electoral outcomes in recent elections.

While some analysts deny any deliberate bias, concerns persist over the Commission's independence and the future of democratic voting rights in India's billion-strong population.