The Election Commission (EC) held a meeting on Saturday amid the controversy over Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi participated in it. After the meeting, the EC said that all major decisions related to SIR were taken unanimously. The Commission has also announced some changes in the process of SIR. But despite this, the questions of Congress and other opposition parties have not ended.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies have welcomed the Commission's clarification. In such a situation, the question is, in which direction will the dispute go now?
This meeting took place after an Indian Express report which claimed differences among the election commissioners on issues related to SIR, voter data and Form-6.
After the meeting, the Commission said that its orders and schedule related to SIR have been issued with the consent of the three Election Commissioners. The Commission also said that the letters sent by the two Election Commissioners to the Cabinet Secretary were not related to any policy of the Commission or the decision of the SIR.
But the Congress termed the Commission's statement as evasive and said that it did not provide answers to the basic questions raised by it. The party has reiterated its demand for stopping the SIR and resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
At the same time, BJP says that it has become clear from the statement of the Commission that the allegations made regarding SIR have no basis. BJP President Nitin Nabin accused the opposition of misleading the people.
1. What did the Election Commission say and what 'lack' did the opposition see in it?
The most important answer of the Commission was that there was consensus among the three Election Commissioners regarding the SIR.
The Commission also said that the letter sent by the two Election Commissioners to the Cabinet Secretary was not related to any election policy or decision of the SIR. This was a matter related to the work of an officer.
Apart from this, the Commission announced some changes in the process of SIR.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will be able to go to the homes of voters who have received notices to collect their documents. Normally they will not be required to appear in person before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO). If necessary, the hearing can also be held online.
The Commission also said that a committee consisting of experts will be formed for independent review of ECINET (Election Commission portal). Emphasis has also been laid on sharing the agenda of the meetings in advance and issuing minutes.
But Congress did not consider this as a solution to the dispute.
Congress says that if the two Election Commissioners had called the changes in Form 6 "unauthorized and illegal", then why was no clear answer given on this.
Congress leader Pawan Kheda described the Commission's press note on Ax as "too lame, too little, too late".
He said that the press note did not answer three big questions – changes in Form-6, the question of young voters and ECINET.
Pawan Kheda wrote on
"It's not too late for him. He should resign and become a government witness, otherwise be prepared to go to jail."
2. What is the question of Form-6 and young voters?
'Form-6' is the form used to add a new name to the voter list.
Congress alleges that during the changes related to SIR, such a question was added in this form, due to which new voters had to indicate their relationship with the old SIR records of their parents/grandparents.
According to an Indian Express report, Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu had called this change "unauthorized and illegal".
The Election Commission said in its new press note that the Form-6 declaration related to SIR has been upheld by the Supreme Court.
Congress says that what will happen to the young voters in the states where elections have been held after SIR. Pawan Khera specifically asked that if Special Summary Revision (SSR) elections are held without SIR in Bihar and West Bengal, then what will happen to the young voters left out during SIR there? He also asked what is the relevance of old Form-6 if SSR is not done after January 2024
The Election Commission had directed to organize special camps for young voters in Delhi on 29-30 September. After this, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called it a "panic reaction" on Twitter.
His allegation was that on one hand the Election Commission is organizing camps to connect young voters, but on the other hand a new mandatory response was added in Form 6, in which the applicant was asked whether his parents or grandparents were voters in the previous SIR or not. Ramesh says that this made it difficult for first-time Gen-Z voters to get their names added.
3. What is BJP's answer?
BJP has described the Commission's press note as an important clarification for itself.
BJP MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the claim was proved wrong that there was disagreement among the three members of the Election Commission and the matter had reached the Cabinet Secretary.
Patra said that the Commission's statement has clearly denied these allegations.
Patra also said that it is wrong to portray the meeting of officials and discussion on administrative matters as differences within the Election Commission.
BJP President Nitin Nabin also accused Congress of doing propaganda to defame constitutional institutions.
4. What is the stance of NDA allies?
The stand of NDA allies is also important in this matter.
TDP (Telugu Desam) chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu welcomed the Commission's latest clarification.
He described it as a "unanimous clarification" and said that it removes the misconceptions about the credibility of constitutional institutions.
But before this, some allies of NDA had demanded the Commission to clarify the situation.
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan had said that the Commission should answer the questions arising in the minds of the people so that public trust in the constitutional institution remains.
5. What will happen next?
The next biggest political milestone is September 30.
Opposition India Bloc parties are scheduled to hold a meeting on that day. In this, further strategy can be discussed on the demand for removal of SIR, Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Congress has already demanded the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.
Rahul Gandhi has also made serious allegations regarding the Election Commission and SIR. According to Congress, it has lost its trust in the Commission.
Apart from Congress, DMK chief MK Stalin has also demanded removal of Gyanesh Kumar and stopping of SIR.
Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that democracy can remain strong only when people have full faith in constitutional institutions like the Election Commission.
At the same time, former Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee said in a rally in Serampore on September 26 that "Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign, otherwise our movement will continue."
Regarding the SIR, he alleged that through this the names of legitimate voters in Bengal were removed and an attempt was made to benefit the BJP.
Another controversy related to Gyanesh Kumar came to light
Meanwhile, on September 26, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi again raised questions on the impartiality of the Election Commission, citing the recent claims of former Chief Secretary of Kerala and retired IAS officer Jiji Thomson.
Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter, "First Gyanesh Kumar was used to recruit people for BJP. Then Modi and Shah made him an umpire and handed over the responsibility of match fixing in Indian elections."
In fact, former Chief Secretary of Kerala and retired IAS officer Jiji Thomson has claimed that Gyanesh Kumar had advised him to contest the elections on BJP ticket.
Jiji Thomson told in an interview to Onmanorama that this conversation took place in the year 2016, when both were in government service.
According to him, this meeting took place during a flight to Delhi. At that time he was working on the post of Chief Secretary of Kerala.
Thomson said that he had a good friendship with Gyanesh Kumar. During the conversation, Gyanesh Kumar asked him what his plans were after retirement.
Citing this allegation, Rahul Gandhi targeted Gyanesh Kumar and accused him of "match-fixing" in the elections.
The reaction from Gyanesh Kumar's side on this allegation is yet to come.
