The Congress party is facing renewed scrutiny over its changing stance on the use of Aadhaar for voter identification, following the Supreme Court’s recent observations during a hearing on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls.
During the proceedings on 10 July 2025, the Supreme Court suggested that documents such as Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards should be accepted during the verification process, prompting Congress to declare it an “initial victory.” Senior leader Pramod Tiwari stated that this was precisely what the party had been demanding. “They said that Aadhaar card, ration card, and others must also be considered during the process — and this is what we wanted,” he said.
However, this position has triggered criticism and raised questions, given that Congress had strongly opposed the use of Aadhaar in the electoral process just four years ago. In 2021, when the central government proposed the voluntary linking of Aadhaar with Voter ID to clean up electoral rolls, Congress had protested both inside and outside Parliament, insisting that Aadhaar was not a valid proof of citizenship and warning that such linkage could lead to non-citizens gaining voting rights.
During the Parliamentary session in 2021, when the Modi government proposed to link Voter ID and Aadhar on a voluntary basis, Congress MP Manish Tiwari is seen saying, “Mr Chairperson sir, the Aadhar Act does not allow for the linking of the Aadhar number to the electoral roll. The Aadhar Act is very explicit. It is an Act which is for the targeted delivery of financial benefits and other subsidies, benefits, and services. Voting is a legal right, and the Aadhar Act is beyond the legislative competence. So we are against the introduction of this Bill, and this must be rolled back.”
2021: Modi government proposes voluntary linking of Voter ID with Aadhaar.
~ Congress protests inside Parliament with placards screaming: “Aadhaar is just for targeted delivery of benefits. It can’t be linked with Voter ID!”
2025: Congress now wants Aadhaar to verify Voter ID.… https://t.co/8gf87Ubwyk pic.twitter.com/GhVAsjirYZ
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 11, 2025
At the time, party representatives had argued that Aadhaar was meant only for welfare delivery and could not be used for electoral verification. Placards and statements from that period decried the move, with concerns centered on the risk of disenfranchisement and data misuse.
Now, as the Election Commission undertakes a fast-tracked revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of Assembly elections, Congress is actively advocating for Aadhaar’s inclusion as a valid identity document. This apparent reversal has drawn attention to what observers see as a political shift driven by electoral strategy rather than policy consistency.
The Supreme Court, while permitting the ECI to proceed with the ongoing revision process, acknowledged the challenges posed by a limited timeline. It directed the poll panel to file a detailed affidavit within a week and scheduled the next hearing for 28 July 2025.
The Court also questioned the exclusion of commonly held documents such as Aadhaar and ration cards from the ECI’s list of acceptable proofs, noting that even documents like birth certificates or passports are not definitive evidence of citizenship.
Aadhaar cannot be used as proof of Indian citizenship because it was never designed or legally defined for that purpose. Under the Aadhaar Act, 2016, the identification number is issued to any “resident” of India—defined as anyone who has lived in the country for at least 182 days in the previous year—regardless of nationality. At no stage during Aadhaar enrollment is an applicant required to furnish documents proving citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport. The Supreme Court, in its 2018 judgment, explicitly stated that Aadhaar is meant for identifying residents, not for establishing citizenship. Even the UIDAI, which administers Aadhaar, has repeatedly clarified that it is not a document of nationality. Accepting Aadhaar as proof of citizenship poses legal and security risks, as it could allow non-citizens, including illegal immigrants, to falsely claim rights reserved for Indian citizens, such as voting or applying for government positions.
There has been excessive and misplaced debate surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll in Bihar and the push to include Aadhaar as valid proof of citizenship, a legal prerequisite for being enrolled as a voter.
However, Aadhaar is not considered valid…
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 6, 2025
Congress’s present demand to include these documents, including Aadhaar, stands in contrast with its earlier position that Aadhaar could not be relied upon to confirm eligibility to vote.
(With inputs from Times of India)
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