HighLights
  1. NDA allies urge CEC Gyanesh Kumar to clarify SIR row.
  2. Chirag Paswan stresses ECI must address public trust and concerns.
  3. Reports indicate internal disagreements within ECI on SIR decisions.

SIR Row: Amid growing political uproar over reported disagreements within the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, key NDA allies have asked the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar to break his silence and address public concerns directly.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha, and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders on Thursday urged the poll body chief to issue a clarification to maintain public trust in the institution.

ALSO READ: Election Commission Introduces 'Mark VIP' Feature In BLO App Amid SIR: What Is It And How Does It Work?

Chirag Paswan To CEC

Speaking to news agency ANI in Patna, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan emphasised that maintaining institutional credibility rests on the poll panel, particularly Kumar.

"Let me make it clear that as part of the government, I do not intend to defend what is a constitutional body. I am also not very worried about the allegations made by the opposition, which will always take a stand that suits it politically," the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief said.

Paswan further said, "It does not matter much to me what the opposition says; engaging in politics is the opposition's job. After all, how else would they pursue their politics if they didn't level allegations? However, the CEC should present its position not to satisfy the opposition, but to take the public into confidence"

"It would not be favourable for democracy if people were to lose faith in the electoral process or harbour doubts about it. Therefore, I feel the Election Commission needs to articulate its stance more vigorously—not to respond to Rahul Gandhi or the opposition, but to ensure that no doubts arise in the minds of the public," he added.

RLM Chief Demands Prompt Clarification On EVMs

Joining the call, NDA ally and Rajya Sabha MP Kushwaha stressed that the Election Commission must urgently clear the air and eliminate growing confusion among voters.

"A great deal of confusion has arisen among the public regarding the controversy related to EVMs. The matter needs to be addressed. To dispel the confusion, the Election Commission should immediately issue a clarification on the correct position," the RLM chief said.

TDP Urges ECI To Address Questions, Issue Clarification

Another NDA constituent, the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP, joined the chorus demanding that CEC Gyanesh Kumar speak up and make the poll panel’s stance clear, The Indian Express reported.

While maintaining that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Andhra Pradesh was "conducted transparently," TDP Lok Sabha floor leader Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu noted that as a "constitutional institution entrusted with a crucial responsibility in our democracy," the ECI must address questions and issue clarifications to strengthen public trust.

ALSO READ: SIR Row: Plea Filed In SC Seeking Criminal Prosecution Of CEC Gyanesh Kumar; Calls For SIT Probe In 13 Cr Voter Deletions

About The SIR Row

The demand for clarification comes days after Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi placed objections on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months against decisions related to the SIR of electoral rolls. The internal audit centred on voter registration protocols, the deletion and restoration of names, administrative appeal processes, and access to electoral database software.

The report has triggered political scrutiny. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the ECI of failing to protect citizens' voting rights and urged strict action against the CEC.

Responding to the report, the ECI stated on X that internal disagreements among election commissioners are part of the standard decision-making process, adding that all commission decisions over the past year were taken unanimously.


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