INDIA Bloc to Finalise SIR Protest Plan
Opposition parties are set to coordinate their response to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and discuss a demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Opposition INDIA bloc parties are scheduled to meet in New Delhi on Wednesday, September 30, to finalise a joint action plan over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The meeting is expected to focus on coordinating further political action against the exercise and the functioning of the poll panel.
The opposition grouping is also expected to discuss its demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The issue has become a major point of coordination among several opposition parties following reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections on record over aspects of SIR-related decisions.
KEY ISSUE
The INDIA bloc plans to coordinate its response to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and discuss further action concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Opposition parties have alleged irregularities in the electoral-roll revision process and have questioned the Election Commission's handling of the exercise. These are political allegations by the opposition and have not been established as facts by a judicial finding in the reports reviewed.
The Election Commission has rejected suggestions of institutional dysfunction, saying differences of opinion can occur during deliberations and that its decisions have legal sanction and follow established procedures. The poll panel has also defended the SIR exercise and its implementation.
PARLIAMENTARY MOVE
Opposition parties are also expected to discuss a fresh notice seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner in Parliament.
The proposed meeting comes after several opposition parties intensified their campaign over SIR. Congress has separately held protests and called for action against the Chief Election Commissioner, while other opposition parties have sought a coordinated response to the electoral-roll revision.
Not all parties associated with the broader opposition grouping are expected to attend. The Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav is likely to miss the meeting because of prior commitments in Uttar Pradesh, with a senior party leader expected to represent the SP. AAP, DMK and BJD are also reported to be staying away from the meeting, although individual parties may support specific parliamentary or political measures.