Election Commission makes Aadhaar-linked phone verification compulsory for voter registration and deletion, days after Rahul Gandhi flagged irregularities. say the move raises concerns over transparency and government accountability.

New Delhi: The Election Commission has rolled out a new rule making Aadhaar-linked phone verification mandatory for online voter registration, corrections, and deletions. The decision came just days after Rahul Gandhi accused the government of enabling large-scale voter deletions in Karnataka’s Aland seat during the 2023 polls. Applicants filling Forms 6, 7, or 8 on the ECINet portal must now pass an e-sign verification linked to Aadhaar. While the EC says the feature will curb misuse, critics argue it highlights serious flaws in the system’s earlier design, where voter deletions could happen without strong checks. 

Opposition leaders have slammed the change as a reactionary move under political pressure, rather than a proactive safeguard of citizens’ rights. Civil rights groups add that forcing Aadhaar linkage may lead to voter exclusions and privacy risks, raising questions about transparency and accountability.

Analysis: Instead of waiting for opposition pressure, the EC should have acted long ago. Protecting voter rolls cannot be an afterthought it must be built on trust, transparency, and people-first reforms.