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 charged the poll authority with serious procedural lapses and urged chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and senior officials to answer for the alleged irregularities.
Tribunals spot digital snags in the SIR mechanism
Ramesh’s outburst followed a series of reports highlighting grievances from judges overseeing appeals linked to the SIR exercise. Over a dozen tribunals, constituted on the Supreme Court’s directive, have pointed out shortcomings 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 unfairly struck off. Their observations add a new layer to the already heated political debate surrounding the roll‑revision drive.
Congress questions the integrity of the election machinery
In light of the tribunal findings, Ramesh warned that the revelations expose deeper flaws in the Election Commission’s functioning. 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 how 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 issue has also drawn the judiciary’s attention. 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 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 actions
The Election Commission, for its part, maintains that its actions are firmly rooted 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.
