Why India’s opposition wants top poll official out

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is under scrutiny after a newspaper investigation alleged impropriety during a large-scale voter-roll revision. According to the investigation, some key decisions related to the contentious revision exercise were likely taken without the approval of two of the three election commissioners. The ECI, a constitutional body, has rejected the allegations, stating that all its decisions were unanimous and legally valid.

Opposition parties have long raised doubts about the nationwide revision, which has seen millions of names removed from voter rolls, alleging that it benefits Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party. The ECI maintains that the revision is intended to identify fraudulent registrations and prevent illegal immigrants from voting, but critics argue that it disproportionately affects marginalized and minority communities.

Opposition parties are demanding the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a Supreme Court-led investigation into the matter.

Brief written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.