'ECI needs to present its stance': Chirag Paswan amid row over poll panel

Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Friday said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should firmly respond to questions being raised over the Election Commission's functioning and ensure that public confidence in the electoral process is not affected.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Paswan said the Election Commission is an independent constitutional body and that the responsibility for addressing doubts about its functioning lies with the CEC.

“If questions are being raised on the Election Commission’s conduct… the responsibility lies with the CEC to present his stance clearly. It is problematic if people begin to doubt the electoral process itself. The EC needs to present its stance, not to Rahul Gandhi, but to the public,” he said.

Remarks come amid SIR controversy

Paswan's comments came amid a political controversy over reported differences within the three-member Election Commission on decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

An Indian Express investigation reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months concerning decisions related to SIR. The issues reportedly included changes to electoral forms, voter deletions and electoral-roll data.

The Election Commission has maintained that decisions relating to SIR were taken unanimously with the approval of all three commissioners.

'Trust of people' is key, says Paswan

Paswan said the Commission's response should be aimed at addressing concerns among voters rather than responding specifically to Opposition leaders.

He said political parties would continue to raise questions, but the poll panel needed to explain its position clearly to prevent doubts about the electoral process from taking hold.

“The Election Commission must maintain the trust of the people because if doubts arise in the public's mind about the electoral process itself, that would be wrong. In such a situation, the Election Commission should firmly put forth its points so that no doubts arise in the people's minds.”

Opposition has sought Kumar's resignation

Paswan's comments came a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded Kumar's resignation amid the controversy over the functioning of the poll panel.

The Congress and other Opposition parties have also raised questions over the reported differences among the Election Commissioners and sought action concerning the SIR exercise.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, has said the decisions taken during the period in question were unanimous.