New Delhi (HRNW)-\u00a0India\u2019s Election Commission is facing increased public and political scrutiny over the functioning of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.<\/p>\n
Protests have been reported in several parts of India, with opposition groups and youth organisations raising concerns over voter deletions and demanding greater transparency in the electoral-roll revision process.<\/p>\n
The controversy intensified after reports of disagreements within the Election Commission over aspects of the SIR process and voter-roll management. The Election Commission, however, has rejected claims of internal division affecting its decisions, saying that its decisions, including those related to SIR, were taken unanimously.<\/p>\n
According to Hindustan Times<\/em>, 158,677 names were removed from Manipur\u2019s electoral roll in the draft SIR exercise. A preliminary analysis cited by the newspaper found that constituencies in the hill areas accounted for 66.4% of the deletions, though the figures are based on the draft electoral roll and do not by themselves establish discriminatory intent.<\/p>\n Critics of the Election Commission have alleged that the voter-roll changes could disproportionately affect opposition supporters and benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Such claims remain politically contested, while the Election Commission maintains that the SIR process is being conducted according to legal procedures.<\/p>\n The growing dispute has prompted demands for greater transparency and accountability in the management of India\u2019s electoral rolls, while legal and political challenges to the SIR process continue.<\/p>\n