INDIA bloc weighs SIR protest and CEC removal motion

Opposition INDIA bloc leaders met in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss a proposed joint response to alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a possible motion seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal. The reports do not establish that the bloc finalized a protest plan or approved the motion notice. Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal said leaders’ suggestions would be used to formalize a plan for future agitation and that the bloc’s programme would be coordinated with Congress’s. A draft notice for a fresh removal motion in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha was reportedly ready for discussion. Its preparation and consideration were described by people familiar with the matter, but no approval or parliamentary filing was confirmed. The meeting was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Venugopal and other Congress leaders, as well as Trinamool Congress leaders Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. Representatives of the Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPI(M), NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) were also expected or reported to attend.