Gyanesh Kumar should clarify EC's position to voters: Chirag Paswan on dissent row

The Union Minister said the clarification should not be aimed at responding to Opposition leaders, but at assuring voters and preventing doubts about the credibility of the electoral system.

In Short

• Opposition alleges SIR could exclude genuine voters; EC rejects manipulation
• EC says internal differences were normal deliberations, decisions remained unanimous
• Paswan says EC should reassure voters, not engage Opposition politically

Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday said the Election Commission must address public concerns over the electoral process and CEC Gyanesh Kumar should come out clean amid a controversy surrounding reported differences among its three members over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Speaking to reporters in Patna, Paswan said the responsibility of clarifying the Election Commission's position rested with the poll panel, particularly Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

He said the clarification should not be aimed at responding to Opposition leaders, but at assuring voters and preventing doubts about the credibility of the electoral system.

"Let me make it clear that as part of the government, I do not intend to defend what is a constitutional body. I am also not much worried about the allegations made by the opposition which will always take a stand that suits it politically," the Hajipur MP said.

"It does not matter much to me what the opposition says; engaging in politics is the opposition's job. After all, how else would they pursue their politics if they didn't level allegations? However, the CEC should present its position not to satisfy the opposition, but to take the public into confidence," he added.

Chirag Paswan further said, "It would not be favourable for democracy if people were to lose faith in the electoral process or harbor doubts about it. Therefore, I feel the Election Commission needs to articulate its stance more vigorously—not to respond to Rahul Gandhi or the opposition, but to ensure that no doubts arise in the minds of the public".

WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT?

Paswan's comments come days after an Indian Express investigation reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on 14 occasions over 10 months to various decisions and processes linked to the SIR exercise.

The reported objections concerned issues including new voter registration, deletion and restoration of names, appeals against electoral-roll decisions and access to the software used for maintaining voter records.

The report has triggered a political controversy, with Opposition parties questioning the functioning of the three-member poll panel and targeting Kumar over the conduct of the SIR exercise.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission of failing to protect voters' rights and has demanded action against the CEC.

Other Opposition leaders have also raised allegations that the revision process could result in genuine voters being excluded from electoral rolls.

The Election Commission, however, has rejected the suggestion that the reported objections amount to a rupture within the panel.

It said differing views, written observations and technical suggestions were part of normal institutional deliberations and maintained that decisions taken by the Commission, including those relating to SIR, were unanimous.

SIR UNDER THE HAMMER

The controversy has focused particular attention on the scale and implementation of the SIR exercise.

According to the Indian Express report, the exercise, which began in Bihar in June 2025 and was subsequently extended to other states and Union Territories, has resulted in more than 13 crore names being struck off draft electoral rolls.

The Commission has maintained that the exercise is intended to identify and remove ineligible, dead, duplicate and shifted voters while protecting the rights of eligible electors.

Opposition parties have alleged that the SIR process and changes to electoral-roll systems could disproportionately affect genuine voters and have questioned the Election Commission's independence.

The poll panel has rejected allegations of political manipulation and maintained that its decisions have been taken in accordance with law.

Against this backdrop, Paswan's remarks put the emphasis on the Election Commission's responsibility to communicate directly with the electorate.

His position communicates that the poll panel need not engage politically with Rahul Gandhi or other Opposition leaders, but should provide sufficient clarification to ensure that voters understand its actions and retain confidence in the electoral process.

- Ends
With PTI inputs