Wishy-washy statement, Election Commission in damage-control mode, says Congress

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the Election Commission's (EC) statement on Sunday, calling it "wishy-washy" and accusing the poll panel of operating in a "damage-control mode after causing massive damage to democracy." Ramesh, a Congress MP and general secretary (communications), expressed his concerns following the EC's response to an investigation by The Indian Express on dissent notes by EC commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi regarding steps taken by the poll panel related to SIR (Single Member Voter Registration) exercise.

The EC's statement did not directly refute the investigation's findings but instead attempted to downplay them. Ramesh highlighted three points of criticism: the EC's attempt to justify its actions by citing the Supreme Court's May 27, 2026 order, its failure to address disenfranchisement of voters in Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, and West Bengal, and its alleged targeting of Gen Z voters through changes to Form 6 for voter registration.

The Congress leader emphasized that the EC's press note was inadequate and that several questions remained unanswered regarding the alleged targeted disenfranchisement of young voters.