New Delhi. Opposition heavyweight Rahul Gandhi has formally asked the Election Commission to reveal the identity of the official who sanctioned the recent tweak to the online voter‑registration Form 6, and to specify Tata Consultancy Services' (TCS) exact involvement in the rollout.

In a post shared across his social‑media platforms, Gandhi requested the name of the EC officer who directed TCS to implement the change, the senior TCS executive who signed off on it, and whether the IT firm faced any undue pressure while executing the modification. His appeal comes as the EC and several opposition parties continue to spar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

SIR‑Specific Declaration Inserted into Form 6

The controversy centres on an additional statement that appeared on the electronic Form 6 during the SIR exercise. The new clause asks prospective voters to confirm whether their own name or that of a family member has ever been recorded on a previous electoral roll.

The Election Commission insists that the statutory Form 6 remained intact; the extra query was layered on solely for the purpose of the SIR process.

EC Strips the Extra Clause Where SIR Is Concluded

After completing the roll‑revision in a number of states and Union territories, the Commission has removed the SIR‑specific declaration from the online Form 6 on both the ECINET portal and the respective Chief Electoral Officer websites.

In regions where the SIR exercise is still underway, the supplementary question continues to appear. Voters in jurisdictions where the revision is finished must now complete the original Form 6 prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

Why Form 6 Matters for New Voter Registrations

Form 6 serves as the official instrument through which eligible citizens apply to have their names entered onto the electoral roll. The Election Commission’s Citizen Service Portal also provides a digital channel for filing a Form 6 application.

This episode has emerged as another flashpoint in the broader political debate surrounding the SIR operation, with opposition parties urging greater transparency from the Election Commission regarding any alterations to roll‑revision procedures or voter‑registration protocols.

"Transparency is the cornerstone of a credible electoral process," Gandhi wrote, urging the EC to disclose every step taken in the recent amendment.