More than 35 lakh voters have Reportedly Been Flagged For Possible Deletion. That number is not just a statistic – it represents real people, many of whom come from marginalised, migrant, or minority backgrounds. Entire Regions Feel the Weight of Uncertainty: Will their names remain? Will they be asked to prove their belonging again? In this moment of democratic ambiguity, what stood out was the intervention by the tdp, not an act of rebel, but as a responsible appeal from the governing coalition.

Constructive Engagement

The TDP did not question the ECI’s authority. It did not not alleg partisanship. Nor did it retreat into Silence to preserve the appearance of alliance unity. Instad, it posted the sir not as a battleground but as an Opportunity, an occasation to review, reflect, and reform the systems that underpin our elections. In doing so, the TDP remained true to what can be called the spirit of “alliance dharma,” not as passive compliance but as active responsibility.

The Party’s Letter Rised Several Cruccial Concerns. It rightly questioned why voters whose name allready appear in the certified electoral rolls should have to re -stablish their eligibility without any specific, verifiable objection. In a functioning democracy, prior inclusion should carry a presumption of validity. This is not just political common sense – It is a legal precedent, affirmed by the supreme court in the 1991 Lal Babu Hussein vs Electoral Registration Officer Judge. The TDP’s invocation of this case shows its intent was not mely procedural but principled.

Also, I absolutely agree that no voter revision exervation must be especially sensitive to migrant workers, tribal populations, the elderly, and homeless citizens. These are the groups who often fall through the cracks of documentation, not because of the fraud or Deception, but the systemic neglect. There must be a substantive roadmap for reform. We can use ai-based tools to flag duplication or detect Deceased voters, and Encourage Aadhaar-Linked Verification Mechanism with Robust data protection protections. There is also a need for Annual third-person Audits of the electoral Roll, Ideally under the Comptoller and Auditor General. Most importantly, electoral deletions should not occur with prior notice, a reasoned order, and an oportunity for responsibility. Doing so, we will not just defend the dignity of voters and their rights but also provide a blueprint for institutional transparent.

In an environment where ruling parties often Avoid Internal dissent for Fear of appearance divided, the tdp chose the harder path. It is demonstrated that alliance does not mean Silence, and that government is enriched, not weakened, by respectful critique from withhin. In fact, one can argue that is precisedly because the TDP is part of the nda that its concerns deserve greater attainment. If a partner with the ruling coalition is raising red flags, shouldn ‘the leader Party pause and Listen?

The BJP’s near Silence is troubling

As the primary force in the nda, it has a responsibility not only to led with electoral strength but also to safeguard democratic fairness. The fact that is a partner had to step up and voices what millions were silently fearing indicates a deper disconnect between power and participation. If voter lists are being weaponized – Whaler intentionally or inadverts – to Exclude Citizens under the guise of reform, then the damage is not limited to bihar. It is a National Question, One that Demands Answers at the Highest Levels.

We should also be clear: This controversy is not about rejecting reform. Electoral Rolls Do Require Periodic Revision. Fraudulent entries must be addressed. But the method matters. A reform that bypasses transparency, burdens the most vulnerable, and failed to consult key stakeholders risks turning a constitutional exercise in a democratic setback. What the tdp has done is remind us that reforms must be participant, not punitive; Correactive, not coercive. There is a broader lesson in all this.

Political Parties, especially Those in Government, Often It Different To Question The System They Are Part of. But Democracy Demands is a different kind of maturity. It asks political actors to Balance Loyalty with Integrity, and Governance with humility.

As a teacher of political science, I often Tell my students that the health of a democracy is measured by how much is gained, but by how institutions are responsible to the opposite. The electoral Roll may seem technical. But when it begins to decide who countries and who do not, it becomes the frontline of Democratic Justice. It is now up to the ec to responsnd with clarity, and for the ruling party to recommend that Silence is not neutrality.

In a democracy, Silence – especially from those power – often amounts to complicity. If the voter list is to be more than a list of names, if it is to reflect the present of the people, then it must be Built with Care, Consultation, and Constitutional Integrity. Let us learn from the tdp – not just how to govern, but how to stand up for the governed.

The writer is Professor of Political Science, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad