NDA allies urge Election Commission to explain SIR objections

Three leaders from parties in India’s ruling National Democratic Alliance have urged the Election Commission to clarify its handling of the special intensive revision of voter rolls, after reports that two election commissioners repeatedly objected to decisions connected with the exercise. Chirag Paswan, Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu and Upendra Kushwaha said the Commission should address public doubts about the reported internal differences. Paswan, a Union minister and leader of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), said it was the Commission’s responsibility to explain its position when questions were raised. Devarayalu, the Telugu Desam Party’s Lok Sabha floor leader, said clarification and transparency would help maintain confidence in the institution. Kushwaha, head of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, also called for the Commission to clear up confusion. The calls followed a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected to SIR-related decisions at least 14 times. The reporting described the objections as covering a 10-month period, while one account quoted Paswan referring to 14 objections in 10 days.