Despite the Supreme Court’s repeated advice, the Election Commission has excluded Aadhaar and EPIC from valid ID documents in Manipur’s voter roll revision.
BY PC Bureau
July 29, 2025: Despite repeated counsel from the Supreme Court urging the inclusion of Aadhaar and EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) for voter identity verification during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls—most notably in Bihar—the Election Commission of India (ECI) appears to have turned a deaf ear in the case of Manipur.
As the ECI prepares to launch a Special Intensive Revision in Manipur—a state still grappling with the aftermath of prolonged ethnic violence that has displaced nearly 60,000 people—it has omitted Aadhaar and EPIC from the list of accepted documents for identity proof. Instead, it has retained the same 11-document list used in Bihar, which had previously drawn criticism from major political parties and concern from the Supreme Court.
The latest move has triggered discontent among political stakeholders in Manipur. During a meeting convened by the Deputy Commissioner of Kangpokpi on Monday—attended in-person by the Additional DC and virtually by the DC—representatives of the BJP, Congress, and Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) raised objections to both the timing of the exercise and the exclusion of Aadhaar as an acceptable form of identification.
“The list of accepted documents didn’t include Aadhaar,” said Dr. Lamtinthang Haokip, who represented the Congress party at the meeting. “That’s bizarre. In a state like Manipur, ravaged by ethnic violence, thousands of people no longer possess any documents. Are you going to disenfranchise tens of thousands living in camps, whose homes have been razed to the ground?”
According to sources present at the meeting, BJP representative Thangjaming Kipgen also expressed concern over the exclusion of Aadhaar. “If the Government of India recognizes Aadhaar as a valid identity document, how can the Election Commission ignore it?” he reportedly asked during discussions.
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Political representatives also questioned the rationale behind launching a voter revision drive amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis. “The timing raises eyebrows,” added Dr. Haokip. “It appears to be linked to the narrative the BJP is building in Assam ahead of the state elections—trying to polarize voters. Otherwise, what justification could there be for such an exercise in a state still suffering from the fallout of violence and displacement?”
During the session, parties were invited to offer suggestions on acceptable documents for voter declaration and other election-related concerns. The meeting also focused on the need to appoint Booth Level Agents across the three Assembly constituencies—50-Kangpokpi, 51-Saitu, and 46-Saikul—to strengthen voter verification and support.
Len Singsit, MCS, Election Officer In-Charge, briefed attendees on the rationalisation of polling stations. He noted that five polling stations under the 51-Saitu Assembly Constituency currently have more than 1,200 voters each, making them candidates for rationalisation to ensure better voter management.
The DEO assured that all suggestions would be duly considered in consultation with the State Chief Electoral Officer. Political parties wishing to submit further inputs regarding the revision process were urged to do so before the end of August.
The meeting was also attended by N. Shokhongam Baite (ADM), Lamminlal Simte (AC to DC), and various SDOs.
Despite mounting political concerns and past observations from the Supreme Court, the ECI seems intent on maintaining its current protocol, deepening worries about disenfranchisement and a potential credibility crisis in the voter enrollment process in Manipur.
