Overview On November 20, 2025 , Saket Gokhale , a Trinamool Congress MP , questioned the UIDAI's (Unique Identification Authority of India) decision to share a list of 'deactivated' Aadhaar numbers from West Bengal with the Election Commission of India (ECI) . Gokhale alleged that the ECI is collaborating with the Modi government's UIDAI for "vote chori" (vote theft). Key Developments Allegation: UIDAI shared 30-32 lakh deactivated Aadhaar numbers with ECI, claiming they belong to deceased individuals. Contradiction: Gokhale cited a previous UIDAI letter (dated February 26, 2024 ) stating that it does not maintain state-wise and reason-wise details for deactivated Aadhaar numbers. UIDAI's Response (via X): UIDAI claimed that death records with Aadhaar numbers were shared by West Bengal’s Health and Family Welfare department and also by Food and Supplies department . Data Sharing: Bengal govt’s Health and Family Welfare department shared 33.4 lakh death records with Aadhaar numbers in July 2025 . The Food and Supplies department shared death records of 15 lakh people. Deactivation: UIDAI claimed that 32.8 lakh Aadhaars were deactivated based on the death reports from the West Bengal government. ECI Directive: The meeting between UIDAI and the state's Chief Electoral Officer followed an ECI directive asking all state CEOs to coordinate with Aadhaar authorities to verify voter data and identify discrepancies. Analysis of the Issue The Core Argument Gokhale's primary argument revolves around the apparent contradiction in UIDAI's statements. If UIDAI does not maintain state-wise data, how can it identify 30-32 lakh deactivated Aadhaars specifically in West Bengal? Similarly, if it doesn't track the reason for deactivation, how can it attribute these deactivations to deaths? Potential Implications This situation raises serious questions about data integrity, transparency, and potential misuse of data for electoral manipulation. The allegations of "vote chori" suggest a lack of trust in the electoral process and could undermine democratic principles. UPSC Relevance GS2: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice Government Policies and Interventions: The Aadhaar scheme and its implementation fall under this category. The controversy highlights issues related to data governance and potential misuse. Constitutional Bodies: The role and responsibilities of the Election Commission of India in ensuring free and fair elections are central to this issue. Transparency and Accountability: The questions raised about UIDAI's data handling practices relate to the broader themes of transparency and accountability in governance. GS3: Technology, Economy, Security Awareness in the fields of IT: Aadhaar is a technology-driven initiative, and the controversy raises questions about data security and privacy. Exam Perspective Prelims Focus on the mandates and functions of UIDAI and ECI. Understand the basic features and purpose of the Aadhaar scheme. Be aware of the data privacy concerns associated with Aadhaar. Mains Analyze the potential for misuse of Aadhaar data in electoral processes. Evaluate the role of UIDAI in ensuring data integrity and preventing voter fraud. Discuss the ethical considerations surrounding data sharing between government agencies. Assess the impact of Aadhaar deactivation on voter registration and participation. Important Facts 30-32 lakh deactivated Aadhaar numbers allegedly shared with ECI. February 26, 2024: Date of UIDAI letter stating it doesn't maintain state-wise data. July 2025: West Bengal Health and Family Welfare department shared 33.4 lakh death records. 15 lakh: Death records shared by West Bengal Food and Supplies department. 32.8 lakh: Aadhaars deactivated based on West Bengal government death reports.