New Delhi. Prominent Congress figure and Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has formally asked the Election Commission to reveal who sanctioned the latest alteration to the online voter‑registration Form 6 and what part Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) played in its execution.
In a post on social media, Gandhi demanded the name of the EC official who directed TCS to carry out the amendment, the corporate officer who approved it, and whether TCS encountered any undue pressure while doing so. His queries arise as the Election Commission and opposition parties clash over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
SIR‑Specific Declaration Inserted into Form 6
The controversy centers on an additional statement that appeared on the digital Form 6 during the SIR exercise. The new clause required prospective voters to confirm whether their own name or that of a family member had ever been listed on a previous electoral roll.
The Election Commission maintains that the statutory Form 6 itself was not modified; the extra question was introduced solely for the SIR process.
EC Strips Extra Clause Where SIR Is Concluded
After completing the roll‑revision in several states and Union territories, the Commission has removed the SIR‑specific declaration from the online Form 6 on the ECINET portal and on the respective Chief Electoral Officer websites.
In jurisdictions where the SIR exercise is still underway, the supplemental question remains active. Voters in areas where the revision has finished must now complete the original Form 6 prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
Understanding the Role of Form 6 in Voter Registration
Form 6 is the official instrument through which eligible citizens apply to have their names entered onto the electoral roll. The Election Commission’s Citizen Service Portal also provides an online channel for submitting a Form 6 application.
This episode has become another flashpoint in the broader political debate surrounding the SIR operation, with opposition parties demanding greater transparency from the Election Commission regarding any changes to roll‑revision procedures or voter‑registration protocols.
