Opposition parties raise concerns over reported internal disagreements on electoral roll decisions; Election Commission maintains that its decisions were unanimous.
Opposition parties have intensified their demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar following a report alleging disagreements among members of the Election Commission of India (ECI) over key administrative decisions.
According to a report by The Indian Express, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly raised objections on multiple occasions over a period of 10 months. The objections allegedly concerned decisions taken in the name of the Commission without their prior knowledge or approval.
The reported disagreements have triggered fresh political debate over the functioning, transparency and decision-making process of the country’s constitutional election authority.
Opposition Demands Action Against CEC
Several Opposition leaders have called for parliamentary action against Gyanesh Kumar, citing concerns raised in the report.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas questioned the functioning of the Election Commission and called for accountability over the reported objections.
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien also renewed his party’s demand for action against the CEC. He stated that more than 60 Rajya Sabha MPs had previously submitted a motion seeking Kumar’s removal and called for the matter to be taken up again.
Opposition leaders have argued that the reported disagreements warrant greater scrutiny of the Commission’s decision-making process.
Special Intensive Revision Under Scrutiny
The controversy has also drawn attention to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The reported objections reportedly involved matters relating to voter registration, deletion of names and the management of electoral roll data.
The Opposition has raised concerns about the implications of these decisions for the integrity of voter lists and the administration of elections.
However, the allegations concerning internal disagreements and the legality of specific decisions remain matters of dispute.
Election Commission Maintains Decisions Were Unanimous
The Election Commission has rejected suggestions that its decisions were taken without the approval of its members.
According to the Commission’s response, decisions, including those concerning the Special Intensive Revision, were taken unanimously with the approval of the Chief Election Commissioner and both Election Commissioners.
The Commission’s position contrasts with the concerns described in the reported objections, placing the internal decision-making process at the centre of the controversy.
Political Debate Over Election Commission’s Functioning Continues
The latest developments have renewed debate over the independence, accountability and institutional functioning of the Election Commission of India.
While Opposition parties are demanding action against the CEC, the Commission maintains that its decisions were unanimous.
The issue is likely to remain a subject of political and institutional scrutiny as questions surrounding the reported objections and the Commission’s decision-making process continue to draw attention.
