2 hrs ago
Samajwadi Party Backs Calls to Remove Election Officials
Opposition parties are accusing India’s Election Commission of mishandling decisions about voter lists.
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav said all officials involved should resign, not only Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
She also said her party supports efforts to begin impeachment proceedings against the poll panel.
The dispute grew after a report said two Election Commissioners had objected to decisions at least 14 times over 10 months.
The objections reportedly included changes to forms used to register voters and decisions about adding or removing names.
The Election Commission said disagreements during discussions are normal.
It also said the decisions were approved by all three commissioners.
Congress held protests in multiple cities and demanded Kumar’s removal and an independent review.
Police detained some protesters, and water cannons were used during a demonstration in Patna.
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav demanded resignations from all officials involved in electoral-roll decisions, not only Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The demand followed reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times to decisions over 10 months.
The Election Commission said differing views are part of internal deliberations and that decisions, including the electoral-roll revision, had unanimous approval.
The Samajwadi Party said it would support the INDIA bloc’s proposed impeachment proceedings against the Election Commission.
Congress protests demanding Kumar’s resignation took place in several cities, with some protesters detained and water cannons used in Patna.
- Who
- Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, opposition parties including Congress, and the Election Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- What
- Opposition parties are demanding resignations, accountability and possible impeachment proceedings over alleged irregularities in electoral-roll decisions and Election Commission functioning.
- Where
- Protests were reported in Delhi, Patna, Jammu, Kolkata, Punjab, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and other locations.
- When
- The controversy intensified after a report described objections made over a 10-month period; Congress protests were held following a September 25 directive.
- Why
- The dispute followed reported objections by two Election Commissioners to decisions concerning electoral-roll management, including voter registration forms and additions or deletions of names.
Opposition Parties
Election Commission
Responsibility and resignations
Opposition Parties
Dimple Yadav and Congress leaders said Gyanesh Kumar and other officials responsible for electoral-roll decisions should resign, and called for accountability or punishment.
Election Commission
The Election Commission rejected the implication that decisions were improperly taken without the commissioners’ knowledge, saying institutional deliberations can include differing views.
Objections by commissioners
Opposition Parties
Opposition parties cited reports that Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected to decisions at least 14 times over 10 months.
Election Commission
The Election Commission said decisions, including those concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, were taken with the approval of all three commissioners.
Impeachment and review
Opposition Parties
The Samajwadi Party backed the INDIA bloc’s impeachment initiative and Congress’s demand for an independent review of electoral-roll changes made during Kumar’s tenure.
Election Commission
The Election Commission stated that it is a constitutional body operating under Article 324 of the Constitution and statutory rules.
Key facts
- Main demand
- Dimple Yadav called for the resignation of all officials responsible for the disputed electoral-roll decisions, along with the Chief Election Commissioner.
- Reported objections
- Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected at least 14 times over 10 months.
- Election Commission response
- The poll panel said differing views are part of deliberations and that decisions were approved by all three commissioners.
- Samajwadi Party position
- The party supports the INDIA bloc’s impeachment move and said it would provide full cooperation.
- Congress protests
- Demonstrations demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation took place across several parts of India.
- Patna action
- Police used water cannons against Congress workers attempting to march toward the poll panel’s office.
- Electoral-roll issue
- Reported objections covered voter additions, deletions, restoration of names, appeals and changes to Form 6.
Quotes
Devender Yadav
Delhi Congress president speaking during protests against the Election Commission
“The Samajwadi Party supports the impeachment move. We had previously signed the impeachment motion initiated by the Trinamool Congress and stood with them. We will extend our full support and cooperation.”
NDTV
“Gyanesh Kumar must resign immediately. We are not going to let democracy be destroyed in India and sit silent, and the people responsible for this are going to be punished.”
NDTV
Sources
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