Opposition leaders discuss a coordinated protest over the Special Intensive Revision and a fresh parliamentary motion seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
NEW DELHI, (Economy India): Top leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc met in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss a coordinated response to the controversy surrounding the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, including plans for a joint agitation and a fresh move seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The meeting brought together senior leaders of the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPI(M), NCP(SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), among other opposition parties. The proposed removal motion against the CEC was among the key issues discussed.
Draft Notice for CEC Removal Motion
Sources said a draft notice for a fresh motion in Parliament seeking Kumar’s removal had been prepared and was to be considered by the participating parties.
The opposition parties have been demanding action against the CEC over their concerns regarding the SIR exercise and the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal had said ahead of the meeting that the party wanted to coordinate with other opposition parties on a “massive agitation” and formulate a joint programme following consultations with INDIA bloc leaders.
The proposal concerns a removal motion, rather than an ordinary resignation demand. The Constitution provides a special protection framework for the Chief Election Commissioner under Article 324.
Opposition Raises Concerns Over SIR
The SIR exercise has become a major political issue, with opposition parties alleging irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls and raising questions about the procedures used for adding, verifying and deleting voter names.
The controversy intensified after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over a period of 10 months regarding decisions and processes connected with the electoral-roll revision. The report covered issues including electoral-roll access, Form 6 and technical aspects of the voter-registration system.
The Election Commission, however, has maintained that differences of opinion and observations are part of institutional deliberations and that its decisions follow statutory procedures. The ECI continues to list Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner, with Sandhu and Joshi as the two Election Commissioners.
The Commission’s official voter-services platform also continues to provide facilities linked to the SIR-2026 exercise, including electoral-roll searches, voter registration and appeal-related services.
Key INDIA Bloc Leaders Attend
Among those present at the meeting were Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal, along with TMC leader Mamata Banerjee and representatives of several other opposition parties.
The DMK and Aam Aadmi Party did not attend the meeting. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was also absent, with party-related Rajya Sabha nomination proceedings in Uttar Pradesh cited as the reason.
The composition of the meeting reflected the opposition parties’ effort to coordinate their positions on the Election Commission and the SIR controversy, while participation varied among INDIA bloc constituents.
Election Commission Controversy
The reported differences among the three Election Commissioners have added another dimension to the political dispute over SIR.
Reuters reported that the Election Commission had begun reviewing aspects of its voter-roll software following concerns raised in reporting about changes to electoral rolls. The Commission has said its processes are lawful and that internal differences are part of institutional functioning.
The ECI’s official website identifies Gyanesh Kumar as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner and confirms that Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi are the two Election Commissioners currently serving alongside him.
Opposition Seeks Coordinated Political Programme
For the INDIA bloc, the SIR controversy has become a platform for greater coordination among opposition parties. The proposed joint agitation is expected to focus on electoral-roll revisions, transparency in the SIR process and accountability within the Election Commission.
What to Watch
- Joint agitation: Opposition parties are working on a coordinated programme over the SIR controversy.
- CEC removal motion: A fresh draft notice seeking Gyanesh Kumar’s removal is under consideration.
- SIR process: Questions remain politically contested over voter-roll revisions and procedures.
- ECI response: The Election Commission maintains that its decisions follow established legal and statutory procedures.
- Opposition coordination: Participation differs among INDIA bloc constituents, including the absence of the DMK and AAP from the September 30 meeting.
The latest meeting follows an earlier INDIA bloc gathering on June 8, when opposition parties had discussed a range of electoral and political issues.
The developments now put the focus on whether opposition parties can agree on a common programme of protests and whether the proposed removal motion against the CEC will secure the parliamentary support required for further consideration.
(Economy India)
