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IPF Plans Hunger Strike Over Uttar Pradesh Election Roll Row
The Indian People’s Front is a new political party in Uttar Pradesh.
It says the state’s voter lists should be checked carefully.
The party is concerned that eligible citizens might lose their right to vote because of mistakes or paperwork problems.
It wants an impartial inquiry into how the Election Commission handled the voter-list review.
The party will hold a three-day hunger strike starting October 3.
A report said two Election Commissioners objected to some decisions at least 14 times.
The Election Commission said disagreements can happen during official discussions.
It also said every order about the voter-list review was approved unanimously.
The Indian People’s Front demanded an impartial inquiry into questions surrounding the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
IPF president Shekhar Dixit said accurate electoral rolls and free, fair elections are essential to democracy.
The party announced a three-day hunger strike across Uttar Pradesh districts beginning October 3.
An Indian Express report said commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times to certain SIR-related decisions and orders.
The Election Commission said differing views are normal and maintained that all SIR orders received unanimous approval from its three commissioners.
- Who
- The Indian People’s Front, led by president Shekhar Dixit, and the Election Commission of India are central to the dispute.
- What
- The IPF has demanded an inquiry into the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and announced a three-day hunger strike.
- Where
- The protest is planned across various districts of Uttar Pradesh; the statement was issued in Lucknow.
- When
- The announcement was reported on September 27; the hunger strike is scheduled to begin October 3.
- Why
- The IPF says electoral rolls must be accurate and that no eligible citizen should lose voting rights because of technical, administrative, or procedural problems.
IPF and Reported Concerns
Election Commission’s Response
Need for an inquiry
IPF and Reported Concerns
The IPF says questions about the Election Commission’s functioning are serious and require an impartial inquiry.
Election Commission’s Response
The Election Commission has defended its institutional decision-making and said differing views are a normal part of deliberations.
Commissioners’ objections
IPF and Reported Concerns
The Indian Express reported that Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times to SIR-related decisions and orders they said were issued without their knowledge or recommendations.
Election Commission’s Response
The Election Commission maintains that all Special Intensive Revision orders received unanimous consent from all three commissioners.
Protection of voting rights
IPF and Reported Concerns
The IPF says no eligible Indian citizen should be deprived of voting rights for technical, administrative, or procedural reasons.
Election Commission’s Response
The Election Commission’s stated position in the report is that its SIR orders had unanimous approval; the article does not provide a separate response on the IPF’s broader voting-rights concern.
Key facts
- Organization
- Indian People’s Front (IPF)
- State
- Uttar Pradesh
- Demand
- An impartial inquiry into questions surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Protest
- A three-day hunger strike across various districts
- Start date
- October 3
- Reported objections
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times over 10 months, according to The Indian Express report
- Election Commission position
- Differing views are normal, and all SIR orders received unanimous consent from the three commissioners
Sources
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