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COVER STORY OCTOBER 09, 2026 | The Indian Eye 4

ELECTION MATTERS
SIR UNITES

OPPOSITION

The electoral-roll revision controversy has given the INDIA bloc a common political issue, bringing
parties with competing interests together in a campaign against the Election Commission

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi
he Special Intensive Revision
(SIR) of electoral rolls is rap-
Tidly becoming the issue around
which India’s fragmented Opposition
is attempting to build a common po-
litical campaign. From Karnataka to
West Bengal and Maharashtra, op-
position parties have raised concerns
about voter deletions, Form 7 applica-
tions, the functioning of the Election
Commission and the role of Chief
Election Commissioner Gyanesh Ku-
mar. The issue has now moved from
individual state-level disputes to a co-
ordinated INDIA bloc campaign.
The significance of the develop-
ment lies not merely in the intensity
of the allegations but in the fact that
parties that compete against each oth-
er in several states are now appearing
on the same platform. At a coordina- Congress President and Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge speaks during a press conference after the INDIA bloc leaders meeting at the
tion meeting in New Delhi, INDIA Constitution Club of India, in New Delhi on Wednesday (ANI Photo/ Naveen Sharma)
bloc leaders decided to take their
campaign against the Election Com- tion Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. over a period of 10 months regarding demanded an FIR and a time-bound
mission to the streets, announcing a But the larger argument concerns the decisions and procedures related to investigation into alleged fraudulent
series of protests and political actions credibility of the electoral process and SIR and other electoral matters. Op- applications.
in October. whether the revision of electoral rolls position parties have cited the report The Karnataka CEO subsequent-
Congress president Mallikar- is being carried out in a manner that as evidence of differences within the ly issued directions to election offi-
jun Kharge announced a nationwide protects every eligible voter’s right to poll panel. The Election Commission cials across the state. The circular said
“Save Democracy March” at the dis- participate in elections. has rejected the suggestion that its de- the authorities had received informa-
trict level from October 2 to October The Election Commission has re- cisions lacked institutional consensus. tion about bulk applications in Form
8. Opposition MPs are scheduled to jected allegations of wrongdoing and For the Opposition, however, 7 and allegations that some of the
march to the Election Commission maintained that electoral rolls are SIR has become bigger than the ques- forms were not genuine. It directed
on October 6, while INDIA bloc lead- prepared through established statuto- tion of internal differences within the electoral registration officers to take
ers are expected to meet President ry procedures. It has also maintained Commission. action under the law against anyone
Droupadi Murmu in the second week that decisions relating to SIR were In Karnataka, Chief Minister found to have knowingly made false
of October to present their concerns. taken with the unanimous approval of D K Shivakumar has personally en- statements or declarations, following
The Delhi meeting has given the the Commission. tered the controversy. He staged a an inquiry under the Registration of
Opposition something it has struggled The political confrontation inten- dharna outside the office of the Chief Electors Rules.
to establish on several other issues: a sified after an Indian Express report Electoral Officer, alleging large-scale Rahul Gandhi has taken the Kar-
common political narrative. said Election Commissioners Sukhbir deletion of voters through misuse of nataka controversy to the national
The immediate demand is the Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had Form 7. Accompanied by ministers level. He alleged that nearly 15,000
removal or resignation of Chief Elec- raised objections at least 14 times and Congress leaders, Shivakumar Continued on next page... >>

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