BJP ALLIES SEEK CLARITY FROM EC AMID SIR CONTROVERSY

September 26, 2026

NEW DELHI: Three key allies of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance — the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Telugu Desam Party and Rashtriya Lok Morcha — have asked the Election Commission to clarify questions surrounding the functioning of the poll panel and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

LJP (Ram Vilas) chief and Union minister Chirag Paswan said the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, should clearly present the commission’s position to the public. He said continued doubts about the electoral process could affect public confidence and urged the EC to address the concerns directly.

TDP Lok Sabha floor leader Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu said the SIR exercise in Andhra Pradesh had been conducted transparently but added that the Election Commission should provide clarification whenever questions were raised about its functioning. He said greater transparency would help maintain public confidence in the constitutional institution.

Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha also called for an immediate clarification, saying the controversy had created confusion among the public. The statements came after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections over several SIR-related decisions. The Election Commission has maintained that differences during internal deliberations are normal and that its decisions, including those concerning SIR, were taken unanimously.