SIR Row: The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief, N Chandrababu Naidu, on Saturday welcomed the "unanimous" clarification issued by the Election Commission amid controversy over the alleged dissent in the poll body, following a report published by an English daily. Naidu issued a statement on X hours after the poll body published a detailed clarification on the charges.
The unanimous clarification issued by the Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alongside Election Commissioners SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, reaffirms the integrity and credibility of our constitutional institutions and puts to rest all the misconceptions surrounding it, said Naidu.
The decisions concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls are taken collectively and in strict adherence to established institutional protocols, he added.
'For Short-Term Political Gains': Naidu Slams Opposition
Attempts to undermine global confidence in India’s democratic framework or electoral processes for short-term political gains are deeply unfortunate, he said, targeting the Opposition leaders who opened a front against the CEC Kumar.
"Electoral outcomes reflect the people’s mandate. In a robust democracy, leadership also means accepting both victories and defeats with grace and humility. Respect for our constitutional institutions is paramount. It is the collective responsibility of leaders across party lines to uphold public confidence in India’s democratic process," he added.
EC Issues Clarification Amid SIR Row
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of India issued a detailed statement, clarifying poll body's stance on the charges reported by a media outlet. The EC issued point-by-point clarifications regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They clarified key procedures, including home visits by Booth Level Officers for document collection and online hearings in exceptional cases.
What Is The Issue?
The controversy erupted following an Indian Express investigation which reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected on record at least 14 times over the last 10 months to decisions and orders they said were issued without their knowledge. According to the report, the objections included changes to statutory voter registration Form 6 and the centralisation of control over the electoral roll database.
The Election Commission, however, has maintained that its official orders, decisions and administrative directions have full legal sanction, and that differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberations within an institution.
(With Agencies inputs)