News for 'voter rights'

Balen Shah set to be Nepal's youngest, first Madhesi PM

Balen Shah set to be Nepal's youngest, first Madhesi PM

Rediff.com8 Mar 2026

Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is poised to form the next government in Nepal after a decisive victory in the general election, significantly impacting established political parties.

Skeptics fear manipulation as Bangladesh goes to polls

Skeptics fear manipulation as Bangladesh goes to polls

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

Political analysts express skepticism about the upcoming Bangladesh general election, citing concerns over manipulation, voter participation, and the influence of money and muscle in the changed political landscape.

Rahul Gandhi launches 'voter adhikar yatra' in Bihar for voting rights

Rahul Gandhi launches 'voter adhikar yatra' in Bihar for voting rights

Rediff.com16 Aug 2025

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar to advocate for fair elections and protect voting rights, alleging irregularities in electoral rolls and accusing the BJP of attempting to disenfranchise voters.

'Voter Yatra' fails to deliver electoral gains for Mahagathbandhan

'Voter Yatra' fails to deliver electoral gains for Mahagathbandhan

Rediff.com14 Nov 2025

The Voter Adhikar Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav before the Bihar Assembly polls, failed to deliver electoral gains for the Mahagathbandhan, with the NDA winning across its route.

SIR concerns: Sonagachi sex workers fear mass exclusion from voter list

SIR concerns: Sonagachi sex workers fear mass exclusion from voter list

Rediff.com22 Nov 2025

Sex workers in Sonagachi, Asia's largest red-light district, are pleading for relief from stringent voter ID rules that they say are impossible to meet, potentially leading to exclusion from the voters' list.

Bangladesh to hold crucial general elections on Thursday

Bangladesh to hold crucial general elections on Thursday

Rediff.com11 Feb 2026

Bangladesh is set to hold parliamentary elections with unprecedented security measures in place, following a period of interim governance and political changes.

Can Congress Recover From Borah Exit?

Can Congress Recover From Borah Exit?

Rediff.com18 Feb 2026

Bhupen Borah's resignation and swift switch to the BJP has dealt the Congress a major setback in Assam just weeks before the Assembly elections.

EC strongly defends TN, Bengal SIR in SC, denies mass voter deletion

EC strongly defends TN, Bengal SIR in SC, denies mass voter deletion

Rediff.com2 Dec 2025

The Election Commission has defended its Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court, refuting allegations of mass deletion of genuine voters as exaggerated and politically motivated.

Additions, deletions part of electoral roll revision process, says SC

Additions, deletions part of electoral roll revision process, says SC

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

The Supreme Court of India resumed hearing petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, addressing the use of Aadhaar and concerns about voter deletions.

BNP sweeps Bangladesh polls; Tarique Rahman to be PM

BNP sweeps Bangladesh polls; Tarique Rahman to be PM

Rediff.com13 Feb 2026

If the Bangladesh Nationalist Party wins, Tarique Rahman will be Bangladesh's first male prime minister in 36 years.

Record 69% turnout in Bihar's final phase, women voters lead

Record 69% turnout in Bihar's final phase, women voters lead

Rediff.com12 Nov 2025

Bihar recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of 67.14 per cent in the second and final phase of the assembly elections. The election is seen as a referendum on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Kishanganj recorded the highest polling percentage at 76.26.

When Votes Come With a Price Tag, Is It Still Democracy?

When Votes Come With a Price Tag, Is It Still Democracy?

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

The Maharashtra municipal elections showed a troubling shift, where votes were traded for cash, convictions no longer mattered, and ideology became an afterthought, observes Ramesh Menon.

Assembly elections voter list to be used for Maha civic polls: SEC

Assembly elections voter list to be used for Maha civic polls: SEC

Rediff.com4 Nov 2025

The State Election Commission will adopt the voters' list of the assembly elections for civic polls, the Bombay high court was told on Tuesday, while hearing a plea by an 18-year-old woman who claimed her application to enrol as a voter after she turned 18 in April 2025 was not accepted.

Despite Cong flak, Aiyar sticks to claim of Vijayan's return

Despite Cong flak, Aiyar sticks to claim of Vijayan's return

Rediff.com16 Feb 2026

Aiyar's endorsement of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has ignited a political firestorm, drawing sharp rebukes from his own party.

Iran War Exposes Washington's Strategic Chaos

Iran War Exposes Washington's Strategic Chaos

Rediff.com12 Mar 2026

What we are watching is something different: A fog manufactured and maintained by the people who started the war, so that the question of why it was started never has to be answered, observes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the war in the Middle East.

Bangladesh gears up for polls amidst political turmoil

Bangladesh gears up for polls amidst political turmoil

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

Bangladesh is preparing for elections and a referendum on reforms, but the absence of the Awami League and rising political tensions are raising concerns about the legitimacy and stability of the process.

Bihar's voter turnout nearly 69%; women outvoted men in both phases

Bihar's voter turnout nearly 69%; women outvoted men in both phases

Rediff.com12 Nov 2025

An ECI statement issued from New Delhi put the voter turnout at 68.76 per cent. The female turnout (74.03 per cent) was significantly higher, compared with males (64.1 per cent).

Will Bihar Exit Polls Be Right Or Wrong?

Will Bihar Exit Polls Be Right Or Wrong?

Rediff.com12 Nov 2025

The results for the election to the 243-member Bihar assembly will be available on Friday, November 14, 2025.

RSS chief criticises NOTA, says it indirectly promotes...

RSS chief criticises NOTA, says it indirectly promotes...

Rediff.com15 Jan 2026

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat cast his vote in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) polls and commented on the NOTA option, stating it indirectly helps promote an unwanted candidate.

SC seeks EC response on TMC MPs' plea over Bengal electoral rolls

SC seeks EC response on TMC MPs' plea over Bengal electoral rolls

Rediff.com12 Jan 2026

The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Election Commission on a plea by Trinamool Congress MPs alleging irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal.

EC notice to PK over name in voter lists of Bihar, Bengal

EC notice to PK over name in voter lists of Bihar, Bengal

Rediff.com28 Oct 2025

According to official records, Kishor is enrolled as a voter in West Bengal at 121, Kalighat Road, the address of the Trinamool Congress headquarters in Kolkata's Bhabanipur assembly constituency, which is Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's seat, he said.

Tarique Rahman clears air on India ties, Sheikh Hasina

Tarique Rahman clears air on India ties, Sheikh Hasina

Rediff.com14 Feb 2026

BNP chairman Tarique Rahman called for maintaining law and order and sought cooperation in building a safe and humane Bangladesh after his party's victory in parliamentary elections.

About 50% turnout in Maha civic polls; 41% polling in BMC

About 50% turnout in Maha civic polls; 41% polling in BMC

Rediff.com15 Jan 2026

A BMC spokesperson said the average voter turnout stood at 29.96 per cent till 1.30 pm in the metropolis, which has more than 1 crore eligible electors.

Bihar: Cong alleges targeted removal of Dalit, Muslim voters

Bihar: Cong alleges targeted removal of Dalit, Muslim voters

Rediff.com5 Oct 2025

The Congress party has alleged that approximately 23 lakh women's names have been removed from the voter list in Bihar, particularly in constituencies with close contests in the 2020 elections. They claim this is a deliberate act of 'vote theft' orchestrated by the ruling party through the Election Commission.

Maha Oppn to protest on Nov 1 asking EC to remove 1 cr bogus voters

Maha Oppn to protest on Nov 1 asking EC to remove 1 cr bogus voters

Rediff.com19 Oct 2025

He said that ruling party MLAs Manda Mhatre (BJP) and Sanjay Gaikwad (Shiv Sena) have also spoken about the duplication of voters and irregularities in the electoral rolls.

Citizenship complaint politically motivated: Sonia Gandhi's counsel

Citizenship complaint politically motivated: Sonia Gandhi's counsel

Rediff.com7 Feb 2026

Sonia Gandhi's counsel argued in a Delhi court that a complaint alleging she was included in the electoral roll before acquiring Indian citizenship was politically motivated.

TMC's Derek O'Brien moves SC alleging irregularities in Bengal SIR

TMC's Derek O'Brien moves SC alleging irregularities in Bengal SIR

Rediff.com6 Jan 2026

The application claimed that since the inception of the SIR process in the state, the EC has issued instructions to officers at the ground level through "informal and extra-statutory channels", such as WhatsApp messages and oral directions conveyed during video conferences, instead of issuing formal written instructions.

'In Bangladesh, 2 Plus 2 Is Not Always 4'

'In Bangladesh, 2 Plus 2 Is Not Always 4'

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

'It is either 22 or 0.'

Final Bihar voter tally falls to 7.42 cr after EC revision

Final Bihar voter tally falls to 7.42 cr after EC revision

Rediff.com1 Oct 2025

The Election Commission on Tuesday announced that it has come out with the "final electoral roll" in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls, taking into account all the claims and objections to the draft voters' lists, which were published as part of special intensive revision (SIR).

If someone tries to hit me...: Mamata after I-PAC raids

If someone tries to hit me...: Mamata after I-PAC raids

Rediff.com10 Jan 2026

Turning her guns on the Election Commission, Banerjee alleged that the BJP had "stolen" the mandate in Maharashtra with the poll panel's help and was now attempting to replicate it in Bengal through the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise by deleting genuine voters' names.

'We're Alive, But Dead In Voter's List'

'We're Alive, But Dead In Voter's List'

Rediff.com26 Aug 2025

'I am alive, I have not died. Look, I am standing and speaking,' says Imarti Devi who is listed as deceased and whose name has been deleted from the voter's list. M I Khan reports from Dharaichak, a village in Bihar where 200 voters have been removed from the voter's list.

'Rahul Will Drink Tea With 'Dead' Voters'

'Rahul Will Drink Tea With 'Dead' Voters'

Rediff.com16 Aug 2025

'Rahul Gandhi is not coming to seek votes, but to reach out to people for awareness of their democratic rights.'

Indo-US deal 'wholesale surrender': Rahul vs govt in LS

Indo-US deal 'wholesale surrender': Rahul vs govt in LS

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

Rahul Gandhi said that had an INDIA Bloc government negotiated the trade agreement with the US, it would have told US President Donald Trump that he should treat India as an equal.

Will move court on Tuesday against inhuman conduct of SIR: Mamata

Will move court on Tuesday against inhuman conduct of SIR: Mamata

Rediff.com5 Jan 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announces legal action against the Election Commission's electoral roll revision, alleging disenfranchisement and procedural flaws.

Aamir Khan Casts His Vote

Aamir Khan Casts His Vote

Rediff.com15 Jan 2026

Film stars arrived at polling booths in Mumbai to cast their votes in the ongoing Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The elections are seen as crucial for major cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Nashik, and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

EC tells SC it has power to conduct SIR of electoral rolls

EC tells SC it has power to conduct SIR of electoral rolls

Rediff.com6 Jan 2026

The Election Commission (EC) defended its power to revise electoral rolls and ensure no foreigners are registered as voters before the Supreme Court. The EC argued it has a constitutional duty to maintain the purity of electoral rolls and exclude those not eligible to vote.

Why Freebies May Not Save Stalin's DMK

Why Freebies May Not Save Stalin's DMK

Rediff.com16 Jan 2026

While the DMK depends on a 'silver sieve' of welfare schemes to stay in power, its support is slowly draining away under the weight of poor governance, corruption, and voters who are no longer satisfied with benefits alone and now want basic administration to work, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

EC to finalise date for nationwide voter list revision

EC to finalise date for nationwide voter list revision

Rediff.com10 Sep 2025

This is the third meeting of CEOs after Gyanesh Kumar took over as the chief election commissioner in February. However, Wednesday's day-long meeting assumes significance as the preparedness of a pan-India SIR are being discussed, officials said.

DMK snubs Cong power-share demand, rules out coalition govt in TN

DMK snubs Cong power-share demand, rules out coalition govt in TN

Rediff.com11 Jan 2026

Senior DMK leader I Periyasamy reiterated that Chief Minister M K Stalin is firm against sharing power with allies, dismissing any possibility of a coalition government in Tamil Nadu.

When Voter ID Matters And When It Doesn't

When Voter ID Matters And When It Doesn't

Rediff.com23 Aug 2025

When the government chooses to either ignore or use identity documents only when it suits them, it shakes people's sense of stability, notes Shyam G Menon.