Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised concerns over several issues, including the deletion of voters' names in different states, during the electoral-roll revision process. However, the Election Commission maintained on Wednesday that its decisions regarding the pan-India Special Intensive Revision (SIR) were unanimous.
The clarification came after a media report said Sandhu and Joshi had objected to steps taken by the Election Commission at least 14 times over a period of 10 months during the SIR exercise.
Responding to queries, officials said the two commissioners had flagged issues related to the deletion of names in various states as well as the handling of voter databases.
EC sources maintained that all decisions taken by the Election Commission of India, including those concerning the SIR, were unanimous and had the approval of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and both Election Commissioners.
Officials also pointed to the law governing the Election Commission and a Supreme Court judgment, saying that decisions should be taken unanimously as far as possible, while the majority view would prevail when necessary.
The Indian Express had reported that Sandhu and Joshi had repeatedly raised questions within the three-member poll panel over various aspects of the SIR of electoral rolls.
According to the report, the nationwide SIR exercise has been supervised by all three commissioners, but Sandhu and Joshi had formally raised objections on record at least 14 times in the past 10 months, including four instances on a single day. The objections related to decisions and orders which, according to them, had been taken without their knowledge.
Opposition parties have criticised the Election Commission over the SIR exercise, alleging that it could exclude voters who are not aligned with the BJP and its allies. (with inputs from PTI)