MyVoice: Views of our readers 28th September 2026

The CEC must clear the air

This refers to “KTR questions functioning of EC over internal voter roll disputes” (THI Sept 25). The internal rifts among the three commissioners cropped up regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar went beating around the bush when the other two Election commissioners smelt a rat and raised their objections regarding voter registration, deletion and restoration.

The onus now is on Gyanesh Kumar to clear the air, dispel all misgivings and clarify people’s doubts as questions over the electoral process can undermine public confidence in SIR. Moreover, it is not a good augury for democracy if people start losing faith and trust in the electoral system.

Zubair Khan, Hyderabad

EC should sustain people’s trust

The concerns raised in the article “Election Commission needs to speak” quite rightly highlights the importance of transparency and public confidence in the electoral process. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional institution entrusted with ensuring free, fair and credible elections. Therefore, whenever serious questions are raised regarding electoral procedures, voter lists, or the conduct of elections, timely and clear communication from the Commission is essential. Silence or delayed clarification can create unnecessary doubts among the people.

At the same time, allegations concerning the electoral process should be based on verifiable evidence and established procedures rather than political assertions. A healthy democracy depends not only on conducting elections but also on maintaining public confidence in their fairness and integrity. I hope the concerned authorities will take these concerns seriously and provide clear, factual explanations wherever necessary.

Josyula Yasaswini, Hyderabad

Transparency must remain central to SIR

The report “All SIR decisions unanimous, says EC” highlights the ongoing discussion surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The poll panel has stated that all SIR-related decisions were approved unanimously by the full Commission. The process should be simple and transparent so that genuine voters are not subject to unnecessary difficulties in proving their eligibility.

Clear communication with citizens is especially important during such a large-scale exercise. The Commission has announced measures aimed at improving oversight and easing certain voter-related procedures. These efforts should continue with a strong focus on transparency, accessibility and protection of one’s right to vote.

Lasya Yinti, Hyderabad

ECI’s ‘palliative measures’

The Election Commission of India’s quick-fix measures are not enough to undo the damage hitherto done to the electoral process by the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise. The slew of measures ranging from BLO visits in place of summons to hearings issued to “unmapped” voters and a special enrollment drive for the voters removed from the electoral rolls to an easier registration for new voters announced by the ECI were at best palliative measures.

However, these measures were an admission that eligible voters may have been excluded from the voters’ list for no good reason during the flawed and haphazardly carried out voter roll revision. The ECI deemed it unnecessary to clarify its position on appeals in West Bengal and alterations in Form 6 without following the due process of law and the status of the ECINet managing the voter data till its review by a panel. The release detailing the so-called rectification and the release of a photo of the CEC and the two ECs do not address the objections raised by the ECs.

They also don’t weaken the case seeking the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and scrapping of the dubious SIR, a brainchild of the BJP. Fielding legal luminaries like Harish Salve to defend the SIR cannot right a wrong.

G David Milton, Maruthancode (TN)

Self-restraint can boost women’s safety and dignity

There have been sexual assaults in Bihar and Delhi a couple of days ago that have raised protests. Sexual assault is a crime whose consequences cannot be undone; punishment, however strict, cannot restore dignity or erase trauma. In today’s climate, where cultural restraints towards female gender have weakened and police protection cannot extend to every corner, women face a vulnerable situation.

A wiser option for women is to adopt self restraint measures like avoiding isolated places, unsafe hours, or risky situations as a rational safeguard. The logic is simple: if a person knowingly enters a lion’s cage, the danger is obvious, but foresight warrants avoidance. Likewise, women venturing into unsafe environments at vulnerable times expose themselves to heightened risk. Such measures should never be misread as government failure or cultural defeat. They are personal shields against irreparable harm. Security is ensured and dignity is preserved when freedom and wisdom coexist.

Dr O Prasada Rao, Hyderabad

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