'SIR decision unanimous': EC plays down report of internal disagreement over roll revision

Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi expressed concerns over multiple issues related to the pan-India Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, but the Election Commission of India (EC) maintained that its decisions were unanimous, officials informed news agency PTI. The clarification follows claims by the Indian Express, which reported that the two Election Commissioners had objected to the EC's steps 14 times in the past 10 months during the SIR process.

The EC sources confirmed that all EC decisions, including SIR, were unanimous and approved by both Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, as well as Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The EC clarified that, in line with the law governing its functioning and a Supreme Court judgment, decisions should be taken unanimously whenever possible, with the majority view prevailing when necessary.

Opposition parties have criticized the EC, accusing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of becoming a puppet of those in power and alleging that the SIR process targets electors aligned with the BJP and its allies. Opposition leader Akhilesh Yad of the Samajwadi Party claimed that the two Election Commissioners had registered their objections 14 times against the EC's decisions in the past 10 months, alleging a conspiracy to undermine democracy.

Trinamool Congress (MTMC) chief Mamata Banerjee urged the reintroduction of an impeachment motion against Gyanesh Kumar in Parliament, while opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has been vehement in his criticism of the EC and the SIR process, alleging denial of voting rights.