CPI(M) rejects EC clarification, reiterates demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation

The CPI(M) on Sunday rejected the Election Commission's September 26 statement defending its functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying it failed to address concerns raised by recent disclosures, and reiterated its demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

In a statement, the CPI(M) Politburo said concerns raised by opposition parties and civil society organisations over the SIR process had been reinforced by disclosures of objections within the poll panel itself.

"The Election Commission of India's (ECI) statement issued on September 26 does not address the serious questions raised by disclosures about the Commission's functioning and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls," it said.

The party referred to an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had repeatedly raised concerns over the enrolment of new voters, deletion of names, centralised access to the electoral database and changes to electoral procedures, including Form 6.

The report said the two commissioners had formally objected on record at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and orders concerning the SIR exercise, including changes to Form 6, handling of additions and deletions from electoral rolls and centralised control of the electoral database.

"The core issue is whether the electoral process is being conducted transparently, in accordance with law, and with adequate safeguards against the wrongful exclusion of eligible voters," the CPI(M) said.

The party alleged that the ECI's statement neither addressed nor denied these issues and questioned accountability for what it described as hardships caused to citizens by decisions taken by "one person or a group acting at the behest of the ruling dispensation".

"Against this backdrop, we reiterate our demand for the immediate resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. If he does not resign, he should be impeached for misconduct. The SIR process must also be halted immediately," the CPI(M) said.

"Gyanesh Kumar must be held accountable. He must go, particularly in the light of new allegations levelled against him by a senior (retd) IAS officer from Keralam," it added.

The Election Commission, in its September 26 statement, said the nationwide SIR order had received the unanimous approval of all three commissioners -- Kumar, Sandhu and Joshi. It also said changes made to Form 6 had been upheld by the Supreme Court.

The poll panel also announced measures including home visits by booth-level officers for voters facing notices over unmapped and logical discrepancies, help desks and special camps, and extensions of the claims and objections deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra.

The ECI had earlier said written objections, observations and technical suggestions by individual commissioners were part of the normal functioning of a multi-member constitutional body and maintained that all decisions taken by the Commission, including those relating to SIR, were unanimous.

The CPI(M), however, maintained that the disclosures warranted greater accountability and reiterated its demand that the SIR process be halted.