The Election Commission has received a mere 117 claims and objections from political parties regarding the draft electoral rolls in Bihar, starkly contrasting with the nearly 2.12 lakh claims and objections submitted directly by individual electors, the poll panel said in its press note on Monday.
This low participation from political parties has sparked concerns about their engagement in the electoral process.
Of the total claims and objections received so far included 117 from political parties, 2,11,767 from individual electors.
As regards party-wise breakdown there are 117 claims and objections, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation having made 108 alone.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal has made 9 objections while other parties have made zero or negligible claims and objections, including major national parties like BJP, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party, the poll panel said.
The low number of claims and objections from political parties has raised questions about their effectiveness in engaging with the electoral process. Some possible reasons cited include lack of awareness as party officials might not be fully aware of the process or importance of filing claims and objections.
The ECI has specified that only claims and objections in the prescribed format will be considered, which might be a barrier for some parties. Some parties might be encouraging voters to submit claims and objections directly rather than through party representatives.
The ECI has also emphasized the importance of public participation in the electoral process and has assured that all valid claims and objections will be considered. With the deadline for submissions ending today, September 1, it remains to be seen whether more parties will engage in the process.