Modi Govt Accused of Undermining Democracy Through Voter List Changes

India’s democratic system is facing fresh criticism over voter list revisions under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Critics say the government has taken away the constitutional rights of millions of citizens, raising questions about the country’s democratic process.

According to The Japan Times, the Modi government is trying to shape the voter base in its favor instead of relying on public support to stay in power.

Political analyst Yogendra Yadav said the government has started changing the voter base by misusing state laws and public institutions. He claimed this strategy is aimed at influencing election results.

The Japan Times also reported that India’s Election Commission carried out major changes to voter lists through a controversial campaign called the Special Intensive Revision.

French political expert Gilles Verniers described the sudden changes to voter rolls as one of the biggest cases of election manipulation in India’s history.

The report said around 65 million voters have already been removed from voter lists in nine Indian states, and the number could rise to 100 million.

According to The Japan Times, people who lost their voting rights in West Bengal under the government’s election policies have also become ineligible for several government services.

Former Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha said that under Modi’s rule, institutions such as the Election Commission and the bureaucracy have become increasingly influenced by politics.