2 hrs ago
Nara Lokesh Challenges Congress Criticism of Voter Roll Revision
Nara Lokesh defended a process called Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, that checks voter lists.
Some opposition leaders say the process could help the BJP and unfairly remove voters.
Lokesh asked how this could explain Congress victories in Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana.
He said political parties should help check voter lists instead of blaming only the Election Commission.
He also said the system is not perfect.
However, he believes officials are trying to fix its problems.
Lokesh said his party reviewed the Election Commission’s explanation and was satisfied.
He said 92% of votes were mapped during Andhra Pradesh’s review.
The Election Commission said all three of its members approved the nationwide process.
Nara Lokesh questioned Congress criticism of the Special Intensive Revision after Rahul Gandhi won elections in Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana.
Lokesh said political parties must help ensure eligible voters are correctly included and mapped on electoral rolls.
He acknowledged that the electoral system is not perfect but said improvements are being pursued.
The Election Commission said the nationwide SIR order and schedules received unanimous approval from its three-member Commission.
Lokesh said 92% of votes were mapped during Andhra Pradesh’s SIR exercise and defended the process despite more than 13 crore names being deleted from draft rolls.
- Who
- Nara Lokesh, the Telugu Desam Party minister, responded to Congress and opposition criticism of the Election Commission and SIR.
- What
- Lokesh defended the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and argued that political parties share responsibility for checking voter lists.
- Where
- The issue concerns electoral-roll exercises in India, including Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana.
- When
- Amid the ongoing controversy over SIR and the functioning of the Chief Election Commissioner; no specific date is stated.
- Why
- Lokesh was responding to allegations that the Chief Election Commissioner was helping the BJP through SIR.
Congress and Opposition Critics
Nara Lokesh and Election Commission Defense
Fairness of SIR
Congress and Opposition Critics
Opposition allegations say Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was helping the BJP through the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Nara Lokesh and Election Commission Defense
Lokesh said the system is not perfect but maintained that efforts are underway to improve it; the Election Commission said the nationwide process was unanimously approved.
Responsibility for voter-list accuracy
Congress and Opposition Critics
Critics focus on the Election Commission’s role in additions and deletions of voters and question the impact of the revision process.
Nara Lokesh and Election Commission Defense
Lokesh said political parties and booth-level workers must help map eligible voters, submit required documents and monitor the rolls.
Meaning of electoral outcomes
Congress and Opposition Critics
Opposition criticism links electoral losses and voter-list changes to possible problems with SIR.
Nara Lokesh and Election Commission Defense
Lokesh argued that Congress victories in Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana challenge the claim that a supposedly manipulated system explains election results.
Key facts
- Process under discussion
- Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Speaker
- Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh minister and Telugu Desam Party leader
- Party affiliation
- The Telugu Desam Party is part of the National Democratic Alliance
- Andhra Pradesh mapping rate
- Lokesh said 92% of votes were mapped during the state’s SIR exercise
- Draft-roll deletions
- More than 13 crore names were deleted from draft rolls, according to the report
- Election Commission position
- The Commission said the nationwide SIR order and schedules were unanimously approved by its three members
- Reported internal objections
- An Indian Express investigation reported at least 14 objections by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over 10 months
Quotes
Nara Lokesh
Andhra Pradesh minister and Telugu Desam Party leader
“If you lose, there's a role of SIR. I mean, where is your organisation to even look at votes where votes are getting added? Have you done any homework? Where is your booth-level organisation? In the absence of it, you're blaming the Election Commission.”
businesstoday.in
“But is the intent there to make it better to resolve the issues that need resolution? That is in place.”
businesstoday.in
Sources
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