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INDIA Bloc Plans Meet Over Election Commission, SIR (Img: IANS)
New Delhi: A fresh political confrontation over the Election Commission and electoral roll revision has intensified as opposition INDIA bloc parties prepare for a key meeting in New Delhi on September 30.
The meeting comes at a time when several opposition parties have raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of electoral rolls and questioned aspects related to the functioning of the poll panel.
Sources said INDIA bloc leaders are expected to discuss a joint political strategy and decide their next steps regarding the Election Commission issue. The proposed discussions could include the possibility of submitting another removal notice against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after a legal review.
The controversy has become a major political flashpoint, with opposition parties demanding accountability from the Election Commission, while the poll body has defended its procedures and maintained that all decisions follow constitutional and legal frameworks.
The upcoming INDIA bloc meeting highlights increasing coordination among opposition parties over the Election Commission controversy.
Congress, Left parties and other opposition groups have been engaging in discussions to prepare a collective response. The issue has also brought political rivals in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), together on a common platform over concerns related to the SIR exercise.
CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby had reached out to opposition leaders seeking broader discussions on the issue. The development marked a rare instance where parties with sharp political differences found common ground over the Election Commission debate.
The meeting is expected to focus on the future course of action, parliamentary strategy and possible legal steps.
Opposition parties are reportedly working on a fresh removal notice against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
If submitted, it would become the third such attempt by opposition parties seeking action against the CEC.
The proposed notice is expected to be examined by legal experts before being placed before Parliament.
Congress has intensified its criticism of Gyanesh Kumar, while Left parties including CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded changes regarding the leadership of the Election Commission and a pause in the SIR process.
The opposition has argued that questions related to electoral transparency, voter rights and the revision of electoral rolls require wider discussion.
The Election Commission controversy is also expected to dominate discussions during the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29.
The party leadership is likely to discuss its political strategy and future roadmap regarding the issue before the INDIA bloc meeting.
Congress has already launched protests in several states, targeting the functioning of the Election Commission and raising concerns over the SIR exercise.
The issue has expanded from a political debate into a nationwide campaign involving party workers, lawmakers and opposition groups.
The controversy gained momentum following reports suggesting that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions regarding certain aspects of the SIR process.
The reported concerns included issues related to voter registration forms, electoral roll additions and deletions, and handling of voter data.
Opposition parties argued that such developments raised questions about transparency within the election process.
However, the Election Commission has maintained that discussions, internal observations, technical suggestions and differing views are part of the normal functioning of a multi-member constitutional institution.
The poll body has stated that final decisions related to the SIR exercise were taken through proper procedures and have legal validity.
The political battle has moved beyond Parliament, with opposition parties organising demonstrations in different parts of the country.
Congress protests were reported in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Chandigarh and Manipur.
In Assam, Congress leaders and workers demonstrated against the Election Commission, during which party leaders including Gaurav Gogoi were reported to have been detained.
In Manipur, police used tear gas during a protest after tensions escalated during the demonstration.
The protests have increased public attention around electoral rolls, voter registration and the functioning of constitutional institutions.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has rejected the allegations raised by opposition parties and defended the Election Commission’s functioning.
BJP leaders have maintained that the SIR exercise is being conducted according to legal provisions and institutional procedures.
The party has accused opposition groups of attempting to create political controversy around election-related processes.
Opposition parties, however, have maintained that their concerns are focused on transparency, accountability and protecting democratic processes.
The Election Commission row has gained significance as several states prepare for upcoming assembly elections, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa.
The debate over electoral rolls, voter inclusion and election management is expected to remain a major political issue in the coming months.
For opposition parties, the issue has become a platform to raise questions about electoral transparency. For the Election Commission, maintaining public confidence in the electoral process remains a key challenge.
The September 30 INDIA bloc meeting will be closely watched as opposition parties decide their next political and parliamentary strategy.
The outcome of the Congress Working Committee meeting, discussions among alliance partners and the legal review of the proposed removal notice could determine the next phase of the confrontation.
With election preparations gaining momentum across several states, the Election Commission and SIR debate is likely to remain at the centre of India’s political discourse.
