New Delhi: A fresh confrontation has flared between the Indian National Congress and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of West Bengal’s electoral rolls. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the poll body of serious procedural lapses and demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other senior officials answer for the alleged misconduct.
Tribunals spot digital glitches in the SIR workflow
Ramesh’s outburst followed a series of reports highlighting complaints from judges overseeing appeals linked to the SIR exercise. More than a dozen tribunals, constituted on the Supreme Court’s directive, have flagged deficiencies in the online platform used to process cases of voters whose names were removed from the rolls.
These tribunals are hearing petitions from individuals who claim they were unjustly struck off. Their observations have added a new layer of complexity to the already heated political debate surrounding the roll‑revision drive.
Congress questions the integrity of the election machinery
Citing the tribunal findings, Ramesh warned that the revelations point to deeper systemic flaws within the Election Commission. He further alleged that the ruling party’s central leadership is attempting to influence the outcome of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.
The Congress leader demanded that the chief election commissioner and other senior officials be held to account, reiterating the party’s call for greater transparency in the way electoral rolls are updated.
These accusations form part of a broader opposition offensive that has repeatedly challenged the SIR’s methodology, especially the removal and subsequent restoration of voter names.
Supreme Court steps into the controversy
The judiciary has also taken note of the dispute. During a recent hearing, a Supreme Court bench said it would scrutinise the decisions and records related to the SIR exercise. The court clarified that any amendment to Form 6—the application used by citizens to seek inclusion in the electoral roll—has not yet received its approval.
This judicial pronouncement has handed the opposition fresh ammunition, intensifying its demand for answers from the Election Commission.
Election Commission defends its stance
The Election Commission, for its part, maintains that its actions are firmly grounded in established legal procedures. It argues that divergent views and observations are normal in institutional deliberations and that its orders carry the requisite legal backing.
With West Bengal’s electoral landscape already a flashpoint of political contention, the latest allegations and the Supreme Court’s involvement are set to keep the issue in the national spotlight in the days ahead.
