The Opposition on Wednesday stepped up its attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with several leaders demanding his removal and a probe after a national daily report said two Election Commissioners had repeatedly raised objections to decisions concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The report said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected at least 14 times over the last 10 months to decisions and orders that they said were taken without their knowledge, including four objections on a single day.
Officials said the two Election Commissioners had flagged multiple issues, including deletion of names, in various states during the voter-roll cleanup, but maintained that the poll body was unanimous in its decisions relating to the pan-India SIR.
The national rollout of the SIR has been under the supervision of all three Election Commissioners. The Indian Express report said Sandhu and Joshi had repeatedly raised questions within the three-member Election Commission over matters concerning the revision of electoral rolls.
The report triggered a strong political response from Opposition parties, with Congress leaders alleging that the developments raised questions about the functioning and credibility of the poll panel.
Bench act?”
“Five months ago, 60+ Rajya Sabha MPs (50 needed) wrote to Chairman RS moving Motion to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar. After big news break today that two Election Commissioners objected to many of CEC’s actions, it’s time to bring out the RS Motion today. Impeach CEC to save democracy,” O’Brien said on X.
TMC Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien called for an earlier removal motion against Kumar to be brought up again.
