NDA Allies Back EC After Clarification on SIR
The poll panel also announced a review of ECINET by a committee that would include an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT.
New Delhi:NDA allies who had sought greater clarity over the Election Commission’s handling of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls backed the poll panel on Saturday after it said all three Election Commissioners had unanimously approved orders relating to the exercise.
The change in tone came a day after the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Telugu Desam (TD) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha sought a clearer response to concerns raised within the Commission. Earlier on Saturday, JD(S) leader and Union minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Apna Dal (Soneylal) chief Anupriya Patel had also called on the EC to explain its position.
Following a meeting of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, the EC said letters sent by Sandhu and Joshi to the Cabinet Secretary concerned an officer on deputation, and not SIR policy or matters relating to the Commission’s IT division.
The poll panel also announced a review of ECINET by a committee that would include an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT. Other measures included circulating agendas ahead of Commission meetings and collecting documents at the doorsteps of voters issued SIR notices.
Union minister Chirag Paswan, whose LJP (Ram Vilas) had raised questions about public confidence in elections on Friday, welcomed the statement. “Today, the Election Commission has clarified its position on all key issues, point by point,” he said, adding that the clarification would strengthen public trust in democracy.
JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha accused the Opposition of spreading misconceptions about a lack of consensus within the Commission and said it should apologise. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also criticised the Opposition for questioning the EC when electoral verdicts went against it.
Before the EC issued its statement, Kumaraswamy had urged it to explain reports of differences among its members. Patel said the Commission should clarify its stand so that no doubts remained in the public mind. RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha had sought an immediate clarification on Friday.