In a sharp video appeal, TMC MP Mahua Moitra called on Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi to stand firm against what she said was a covert Modi‑led push to silence their dissent over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
The SIR row erupted after a media report alleged that the Commission had been pressured to alter electoral rolls during a routine revision, sparking concerns over the integrity of the electoral process. The report surfaced last month, prompting a flurry of statements from opposition parties. Both Sandhu and Joshi had previously voiced recorded concerns about the SIR, which critics say could create loopholes in vote counting.
Congress leader Pooja Tripathi warned that the Commission’s credibility was under siege, urging the two commissioners to make their dissent public and to uphold Article 324. She highlighted the stakes for every voter, noting that any misstep could erode trust in India’s democracy. In a televised interview, Tripathi said the Commission must “speak without external interference,” a sentiment echoed by Samajwadi Party’s Abbas Haider, who demanded transparency in all decision‑making processes. Haider added that any unapproved actions should be reviewed and, if found illegal, overturned.
Rahul Gandhi, the opposition’s Lok Sabha leader, escalated the attack, labeling Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as “deshdrohis” and demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Gandhi’s rhetoric, however, was rebuffed by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, who dismissed the allegations as baseless.
The Commission’s leadership faces a pivotal moment. While the two commissioners have recorded dissent, the question now is whether they will publicly clarify their stance during the upcoming press briefing, a decision that could either quell or deepen the political storm. The outcome will be watched closely by political observers and the electorate alike.