Twenty-three opposition parties and an independent Member of Parliament have jointly approached the Supreme Court, alleging biased conduct by the Election Commission (EC) during its special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In a memorandum sent to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, the group warned that the exercise could have "far-reaching consequences" for India's election process.
Opposition Unity on Electoral Roll Concerns
The joint memorandum, made public by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, follows a June 8 meeting of the INDIA bloc where 21 political parties and an independent MP decided to seek judicial intervention. The final letter garnered signatures from 23 parties plus independent MP Kapil Sibal. Prominent signatories include Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, Hemant Soren, Omar Abdullah, and leaders from Left parties and regional outfits.
Notably, the DMK and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) signed the memorandum despite not attending the June 8 meeting. AAP is not part of the INDIA bloc, while the DMK had skipped the meeting due to displeasure with the Congress for supporting the TVK government after the alliance's poll defeat in Tamil Nadu.
Allegations of Bias in SIR Process
The SIR has been undertaken in states such as Bihar and West Bengal, with similar exercises underway elsewhere. Sources said the memorandum cited specific examples of how the SIR had affected voters in different states. A senior opposition leader remarked, "When everything else fails, the Indian democracy looks towards the judiciary. The judiciary has to see what is happening in the country today."
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien confirmed that the joint representation had been endorsed by AAP and DMK despite their differences with the INDIA bloc.
Questions Over Election Commission's Conduct
The opposition's move intensifies scrutiny of the EC's SIR process, which they claim is biased and could undermine the integrity of upcoming elections. The Supreme Court has yet to respond formally to the memorandum.
