Overview
- A report that two election commissioners recorded repeated objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) prompted the INDIA bloc to meet in New Delhi and approve a draft notice for fresh motions to seek Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, with plans for nationwide rallies.
- The Indian Express disclosure about at least 14 recorded objections by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi is the catalyst for the push, while the Election Commission says internal differences are normal and that its SIR orders followed legal procedure.
- Congress leaders, backed by the CWC, demand suspension of the SIR, restoration of what they say are 13.3 crore deleted names, and use of the pre‑SIR electoral roll for future polls, and they have also called for ballot voting instead of EVMs.
- Not all opposition parties joined the New Delhi meeting: the DMK and AAP stayed away though the DMK said it will support any removal motion in Parliament, and the Samajwadi Party sent representatives because its leader had Rajya Sabha commitments.
- Separately, LJP‑RV chief Chirag Paswan criticised the Bihar government over safety of minors and announced his party’s plan to contest Uttar Pradesh elections, a development that adds strain within the ruling alliance and could reshape local electoral dynamics.