Sibal escalates SIR row, demands CEC’s removal and review of elections
Kapil Sibal has raised concerns over the Election Commission's decision-making under Gyanesh Kumar during a ten-month period. His allegations include that decisions were made unilaterally, bypassing other commissioners and statutory protocols. Sibal has called for an investigation into the electoral rolls and recent elections conducted in Bihar and West Bengal. In response, the Election…
Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal has intensified the political controversy surrounding the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, demanding the chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's removal and a review of the elections held during the 10-month period in question. Sibal accused Kumar of making unilateral decisions, bypassing the full three-member Commission, and criticized the Commission's lack of transparency in meetings and record-keeping.
He also alleged that electoral roll changes and IT system issues were centralized in Delhi instead of being handled by local authorities. The Election Commission responded by stating that some of Sibal's claims had been upheld by the Supreme Court, including the requirement to provide details of parents or grandparents on Form 6 for new voter registration.
However, the Commission denied any unilateral decision-making and promised to review its practices, including the use of ECINET and agendas for meetings. Sibal called for an FIR against Seema Khanna, who manages ECINET operations, and demanded a Supreme Court review to consider annulment of the elections held during Kumar's tenure.
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