NDA Allies Ask CEC Gyanesh Kumar to Clarify Election Panel’s Stand

NDA allies Chirag Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha on Friday called on the Election Commission to clarify its position amid growing controversy over reported differences within the poll panel over the Special Intensive Revision ( SIR ) of electoral rolls. Union Minister Chirag Paswan said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should address concerns among voters and explain the Commission's position clearly. He said the clarification should be aimed at reassuring the public rather than responding to Opposition leaders. Speaking to reporters in Patna , Paswan said he did not intend to defend a constitutional body as part of the government. He also said political allegations by the Opposition were expected, but stressed that doubts about the electoral process among voters could affect public confidence. Paswan said the Election Commission should put forward its position so that people do not lose faith in the electoral system. Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha also sought an immediate clarification from the poll panel. In a post on X, he said the controversy had created confusion among voters and urged the Election Commission to explain the situation. The NDA's Telugu Desam Party also joined calls for greater clarity. TDP Lok Sabha floor leader Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu said the Election Commission has a crucial responsibility in India's democracy and that addressing questions could help strengthen public confidence in the institution. What Triggered The Controversy? The calls for clarification came after an Indian Express investigation reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally recorded objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period to decisions and processes linked to electoral-roll management and the SIR exercise. The reported objections covered issues including voter registration and deletion, changes to Form 6, access to the voter database and the functioning of software used for electoral-roll management. The report has led to a political controversy, with Opposition parties questioning the functioning of the three-member Election Commission and raising concerns over the SIR process. The Election Commission, however, has rejected the suggestion of a breakdown within the panel. It has maintained that differing views, written observations and technical suggestions are part of institutional deliberations and that decisions of the Commission on SIR were taken unanimously. The SIR exercise began in Bihar in June 2025 and has since been extended to other states and Union Territories. According to the Indian Express investigation, more than 13 crore names have been removed from draft electoral rolls across 30 states and Union Territories during the exercise. The Election Commission has said the exercise is aimed at identifying and removing ineligible, dead, duplicate and shifted voters while ensuring that eligible voters remain on the rolls. The Opposition has raised concerns that the process could lead to genuine voters being excluded from electoral rolls, while the poll panel has rejected allegations of political manipulation. Also Read: "Enemies of Constitution Exposed": Rahul Gandhi to Hold Press Conference at 4 PM Today