Aadhaar not mandatory for voting, Election Commission tells TMC delegation

The Election Commission of India assured a delegation of Trinamool Congress that voters will not be stopped from practising their franchise if the don’t have an Aadhaar card

The Election Commission of India on February 26 assured a delegation of Trinamool Congress that voters will not be stopped from practising their franchise if the don't have an Aadhaar card.

The voters will be able to cast their ballot showing their voter id card or any of the other specified identity documents, it said.

The assurance was given by the Election Commission after the TMC leaders raised concerns about several Aadhaar cards being deactivated in West Bengal.

Also read | Centre ‘deactivating’ Aadhaar cards to stop people from getting social benefits: Mamata

A TMC delegation comprising Rajya Sabha leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Dola Sen and Saket Gokhale, and Lok Sabha MPs Pratima Mondal and Sajda Ahmed, met the Chief Election Commissioner and raised the issue of alleged Aadhaar deactivations.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Ray said they raised their concerns over Aadhaar cards of "thousands of people" in West Bengal being deactivated or omitted without following the due process of law.

"The Election Commission has assured that even if a person does not have the Aadhaar, they will be allowed to vote with other valid documents," he said.