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‘Level playing field for state and national parties, access to voting for migrants: Issues raised by BJP with EC

BJP chief J P Nadda, other senior leaders meet poll panel as part of interactions being held by EC with parties to address their concerns.

Union Minister and BJP chief JP Nadda (File photo)

UnionHealth Minister JP Nadda (File photo)

The need for “a level playing field” and provisions for migrants to exercise their voting rights were the two issues raised by the BJP in its meeting with the Election Commission here Thursday.

The BJP, represented by president J P Nadda and senior leaders Bhupendra Yadav, Arun Singh and Om Pathak, was the second party that the EC met as part of its outreach towards political parties to address their concerns regarding the poll process.

On Tuesday, the EC had met BSP president Mayawati to kick off the process.

According to BJP sources, the party underlined the necessity for a “level playing field for all political parties, irrespective of whether they are state- or national-level” during its interaction with the poll panel, including Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. “Our delegation said that everyone must play by the rules as they are,” said a BJP leader.

The BJP also called for “clean electoral rolls”, sources said, flagging the necessity to ensure that “all citizens eligible to vote are able to exercise their franchise”. “Article 326 of the Constitution guarantees Indian citizens above the age of 18 not only the right to exercise their franchise, but also clearly mandates who is a voter and who is not; the electoral rolls must be clean for the benefit of all,” the BJP leader pointed out.

On the question of migrant workers, the BJP said that they are people who had to leave their homes due to “livelihood compulsions”, “which require them to move from state to state”. “They are restricted from going back home to cast their vote and are deprived of their right to exercise their franchise,” the source said, adding: “We sought to underline that for a democracy to be truly representative, everyone, including such citizens, should be able to vote irrespective of their location.”

In her interaction with the EC, Mayawati reportedly demanded that 100% of VVPAT slips be counted to ensure that voting was foolproof. Currently, 5% of VVPATs are tallied with the EVM voting per Assembly constitution or segment. The BSP chief is also said to have asked for making the process of expenditure monitoring during elections easier for candidates.

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In a statement after meeting BJP leaders, the EC said: “These interactions provide for a long-felt need of constructive discussions which enable National and State Party Presidents to share their suggestions and concerns directly with the Commission. This initiative aligns with the Commission’s broader vision of further
strengthening the electoral process in accordance with the existing legal framework.”

Jatin Anand

Jatin Anand is an Assistant Editor with the national political bureau of The Indian Express. With over 16 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is a seasoned expert in national governance, electoral politics, and bureaucratic affairs. Having covered high-stakes beats including the Election Commission of India (ECI), intelligence, and urban development, Jatin provides authoritative analysis of the forces shaping Indian democracy. He is an alumnus of Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU) and the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, where he specialized in Print Journalism. Expertise High-Stakes Beat Coverage: Throughout his decade-and-a-half career, Jatin has covered some of the most sensitive and influential beats in the country, including: The Election Commission of India (ECI): Monitoring electoral policy, reforms, and the conduct of national and state polls. National Security & Intelligence: Reporting on the internal mechanisms and developments within India's security apparatus. Urban Development: Analyzing the policies and bureaucratic processes driving the transformation of India’s cities. National Political Bureau: In his current role, he tracks the intersection of policy and politics, offering deep-dive reporting on the Union government and national political movements. Academic Credentials: Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU): Alumnus of one of Delhi's premier institutions. Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai: Specialized in Print Journalism at India's most prestigious journalism school. ... Read More

Damini Nath

Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. Expertise Key Coverage Areas: Damini Nath currently specializes in reporting on two crucial beats: Housing and Urban Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis and reporting on India's urban development, policy, and housing issues. Election Commission (EC): Offering authoritative coverage of electoral processes, policies, and the functioning of India's constitutional body responsible for conducting elections. Professional Background: Her extensive experience includes roles as a reporter and sub-editor, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the journalistic process from fieldwork to final production. Previous Role: Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she served as a dedicated reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau, where her reporting portfolio included: Culture Social Justice Housing and Urban Affairs The Election Commission beat (a consistent area of focus). Trustworthiness Damini Nath's decade-plus career at two of India's most respected and authoritative news institutions, The Indian Express and The Hindu, underscores her commitment to factual, impartial, and high-quality reporting, establishing her as a trusted and credible source for news on urban governance and electoral matters. ... Read More