Anil Desai questions SIR Process, says 'someone must take responsibility'
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai demands the CEC resign over concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision and mass voter deletions in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Member of Parliament Anil Desai has launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission, raising serious questions regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Desai alleged that critical issues surrounding the exercise remain unaddressed and has demanded that high-ranking officials be held accountable for the discrepancies.
Massive Voter Deletions in Maharashtra Spark Anxiety
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader highlighted a staggering figure regarding the electoral landscape in Maharashtra, claiming that out of approximately nine crore voters, nearly two crore names have been deleted. According to Desai, this massive reduction has triggered widespread panic among the electorate.
"People are worried, and voters are anxious. This has caused anxiety among the public and voters. Who is accountable for this? Someone must take responsibility and be held accountable," Desai stated. He went a step further by calling for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, citing the errors that have surfaced during the process. He also announced a protest march scheduled for tomorrow to voice these grievances.
Allegations of Internal Rift and Unanswered Questions
The controversy gained momentum following reports suggesting internal friction within the poll panel. A report by The Indian Express indicated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on at least 14 occasions over a ten-month period. These objections reportedly concerned decisions related to electoral rolls, voter registration, and the Commission's technological systems.
Desai criticized the Election Commission's response to these emerging issues. He noted that while officials had commented on the matter and various reports had been published, the Commission's subsequent press conference failed to provide specific explanations or refutations of the concerns raised. "The Election Commission did not provide explanations on the specific concerns raised. People want to know what is happening," he added.
In response to the allegations of a rift, the Election Commission has maintained that all decisions, including those related to the SIR, were unanimous and carried the approval of all three commissioners.
Supreme Court Clarifies Stance on Form 6
Adding to the legal complexity, the Supreme Court has stepped in to clarify its role in the ongoing controversy. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana stated that the apex court had not approved any modified version of Form 6 used for the enrolment of new voters during the SIR.
This clarification comes after the Election Commission claimed that a new declaration attached to the online Form 6 had received judicial approval. The modified Form 6 requires applicants to declare whether they or their parents were mapped during the previous SIR—a requirement that was not present in previous exercises in other states.
The Chief Justice remarked, “Any modified Form 6 has not been approved by us. Let’s be clear. When the record is produced, we would like to see who has modified it.” The court is set to examine the records to determine how these changes were introduced. This development follows a plea filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, which seeks the prosecution of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other officials over alleged unilateral decisions regarding the SIR exercise.