'SIR aimed only at excluding people,' says Karti Chidambaram on ECI row
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram criticizes the ECI's Special Intensive Revision, claiming it aims to exclude voters and questioning the CEC's integrity.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is designed specifically to exclude eligible voters. Chidambaram further declared that the Congress party has "no confidence" in Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amidst growing controversies surrounding the poll body's functioning.
Concerns over Voter Exclusion
Speaking to ANI regarding the heated debate over the electoral roll revision, Chidambaram emphasized that the process should be inclusive rather than a tool for disenfranchisement. He pointed out that the current engineering of the SIR process is causing significant hurdles for citizens trying to exercise their rights.
"It should be an inclusive exercise. Anybody over the age of 18 who is a citizen of India and a resident of a constituency must be registered to become a voter. But this SIR exercise is only aimed at excluding people," Chidambaram stated. He specifically highlighted that the process is making it exceptionally difficult for first-time voters to successfully enroll in the electoral rolls.
Questioning the CEC and Institutional Dissent
The controversy follows reports suggesting internal friction within the Election Commission. According to reports, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had reportedly raised objections at least 14 times over a ten-month period regarding decisions related to the SIR process, including issues involving voter deletions and access to databases.
While the Election Commission has dismissed these reports, maintaining that all decisions are unanimous and that such queries are part of standard administrative procedures, Chidambaram remains unconvinced. He questioned the validity of the Commission's clarification, asking why multiple emails and objections went unanswered if consensus was being maintained.
"I am sure that there are people with a conscience in the election commission who are very, very uncomfortable at the moment about the way in which the election commission is functioning... We have no confidence in the Chief Election Commissioner," he added.
Widespread Opposition and INDIA Bloc Meeting
The criticism against the poll body is not limited to the Congress. Various opposition parties, including the CPI, CPI(M), Trinamool Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT), have joined calls for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. Congress has already initiated nationwide protests to demand his departure from office.
Regarding the upcoming INDIA bloc meeting scheduled for September 30, Chidambaram noted that all constituent parties will be represented. He suggested that the meeting will serve as a platform for "free and frank discussion" regarding the current political and societal pressures facing the country. He expressed confidence that the representatives would act responsibly in light of the ongoing concerns raised by society.