NDA Allies Back Election Commission After SIR Clarification

A day after NDA members urged the Chief Election Commissioner to address public doubts over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Election Commission issued a statement on Saturday outlining several decisions, including home visits by Booth Level Officers for unmapped voters, Form 6 procedures, and a review of the ECINet portal. Ruling coalition partners subsequently welcomed the move, saying it had resolved the concerns they had raised.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu said the unanimous clarification from the Commission reaffirmed the integrity and credibility of constitutional institutions and put to rest misconceptions surrounding the exercise. He stressed that SIR decisions are taken collectively and in line with established protocols, and cautioned against attempts to undermine confidence in India's democratic framework for short-term political gains. He also said leaders across party lines share the responsibility of upholding public trust in the electoral process.

On Friday, TDP's Lok Sabha floor leader Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu had said SIR was conducted transparently in Andhra Pradesh, while noting that the Commission, as a constitutional body, should provide clarifications whenever questions arise to strengthen public confidence.

Union Minister and LJP (RV) chief Chirag Paswan, who had earlier said the Commission needed to present its stance to the public and dispel misgivings, said on Saturday that the poll panel had clarified its position on all key issues point by point. He noted that facts regarding the SIR process, unanimity among the three Commissioners, and the meeting with the Cabinet Secretary had been clearly presented, adding that this clarity strengthens public trust in democracy.

JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha accused the Opposition of spreading a false notion that there was no consensus within the poll panel over SIR, saying the Commission's statement had proved such misconceptions baseless. He said dissemination of misinformation against a key constitutional body was unfortunate and demanded an apology to the nation. On Friday, JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad had asked why the Opposition had not filed any official complaint if its allegations were true, noting that the Commission had sought clarification when irregularities were alleged.

RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha expressed gratitude to the Commission for providing clarity on the SIR controversy and urged the public to remain cautious of those spreading falsehoods. He had earlier called on the Commission to clarify the questions being raised.

JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, however, struck a different note, saying the differences within the Commission and the gap between media reports and the actual facts needed to be spelled out by its members.