CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Akhilesh Questions Reported Election Commission Differences Over SIR Before UP Polls
Political debate has intensified after a report claimed alleged differences within the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of the electoral roll ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. According to a report in The Indian Express, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi placed objections on record at least 14 times over some decisions and orders of the Commission in the past 10 months. The report referred to decisions related to the addition of voters, deletion of names and voter data.
Responding to the report, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned the functioning of the Election Commission. He said that if members of an independent constitutional body do not have the freedom to express their views and be heard, it is a serious situation. Akhilesh also demanded that the Supreme Court take cognisance of the matter.
However, Election Commission sources denied any formal differences or dissent. According to the Commission, election commissioners did raise questions and comments on matters related to SIR, but no one recorded formal disagreement against the final decisions. The Commission said the relevant orders bear the signatures of all three election commissioners and that all decisions were taken unanimously.
According to the report, the controversy has emerged at a time when political and legal debate over SIR is under way in several states. In view of the upcoming Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh, political parties are closely watching the Election Commission’s steps on the process of adding names, deleting names and verifying entries in the electoral roll. In this context, the Commission’s internal process and any official clarification on SIR will be important.
Hashtags: #MadhyaPradesh #Bhopal #ElectionCommission #SIR #AkhileshYadav #UttarPradesh #UttarPradeshAssemblyElection #VoterList #SpecialIntensiveRevision #ElectionCommissionDifferencesOver
