Election Commission Rebuts Rift Reports Amid Row Over Internal Notes And Dissent

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders have intensified their attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Gandhi termed alleged vote theft as a crime against the Constitution and an act of treason, warning election officials of accountability. Meanwhile, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal demanded action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, calling for the cancellation and re-polling of recent assembly elections conducted following the SIR exercise across Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal, and Delhi. The opposition has also demanded an immediate halt to ongoing electoral roll revisions.

The Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners are expected to release a joint statement following reports of an internal rift over the Special Intensive Revision exercise. Disagreements reportedly surfaced regarding modifications to Form 6 and the centralisation of electoral roll data. Official sources maintain that all formal decisions by the poll panel were taken unanimously with the assent of all three commissioners. Opposition parties have responded to the developments, as the poll body prepares to issue an official clarification.

The Supreme Court is set to deliver its verdict on whether petitions challenging the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners should be referred to a five-judge Constitution bench. A two-judge bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice S.C. Sharma is deciding this specific procedural point. The challenge concerns the 2023 amendment act, which replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet Minister alongside the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. Petitioners argue this compromises the independence of the Election Commission, giving the executive a two-to-one majority, whereas the Centre defended the composition. Concurrently, the Election Commission is expected to release a joint statement addressing reports of differences between the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, clarifying that all formal orders were issued with mutual consensus despite varied viewpoints during internal deliberations.

The Congress party launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India, alleging internal discord, voter list manipulation, and an assault on democratic norms. Addressing the media, leaders highlighted reports alleging that internal concerns raised in writing by election commissioners were suppressed by the Chief Election Commissioner. The party pointed to dissent notes regarding Form 6 alterations, electoral registration officer access restrictions, and massive voter deletions across states like Maharashtra and Haryana. The opposition demanded full transparency by calling for all internal dissent notes to be placed in the public domain. Trinamool Congress and other opposition parties reiterated demands for accountability and course correction within the poll body, with discussions around moving an impeachment motion during Parliament's winter session. Meanwhile, Election Commission sources maintained that decisions were made collectively, asserting that differences of opinion during internal discussions are standard institutional procedures before final orders are signed.