IndusInd Bank CEO questions why voter roll removal despite multiple ID proofs

Rajiv Anand, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IndusInd Bank, has challenged the Election Commission's move to remove his name from the voter list, highlighting the disconnect between India's multiple identity verification systems. In posts on social media platform X on Sunday, Anand stated that his name has been 'unmapped' from the voting list and he has been asked to appear for a hearing to prevent deletion from the electoral roll. "I have voted in every election ever since I have been eligible to vote. I hold a passport, PAN Card, voter ID card and Aadhar card. I am now being asked to appear for a hearing else my name will be deleted," he said, questioning why such documentation should be necessary.

Anand's case highlights the complexities faced by voters during the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, an ongoing nationwide effort to update voter rolls. "Indians have so many certificates to prove who they are. Aadhar card. PAN Card. Voter ID. Passport. You would think there is an identity crisis," Anand remarked in a subsequent post, underscoring the redundancy of India's identity verification infrastructure.

In response to widespread concerns raised by voters affected by the SIR exercise, the Election Commission announced several relief measures last week, including doorstep collection of documents and extended deadlines for filing claims and objections in Delhi and Maharashtra. These measures were introduced to ease the burden on voters who have been issued notices regarding their electoral status. The SIR exercise, conducted periodically to remove duplicate and ineligible entries from voter rolls, has affected a significant number of voters across the country.