Congress to Chalk Out Strategy on SIR Row at CWC Meet; Meira Kumar Says Gyanesh Kumar Will Have to Go

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said that the party's strategy would be finalised during the meeting. Speaking to reporters, Kumar also called for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying, “The strategy will be formulated today during the CWC meeting, and the rest will be discussed after sitting down with our partners in the INDIA Bloc. But Gyanesh Kumar will have to go, and his removal is extremely necessary.”

The CWC meeting is being attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, chief ministers of Congress-ruled states and other senior leaders. The meeting comes amid the party's growing criticism of the Election Commission over electoral-roll revisions and the functioning of the poll panel.

Congress leader and party in-charge for West Bengal Prakash Joshi also launched a strong attack on the CEC. He said the final strategy would emerge after the CWC deliberations and alleged that Kumar's actions warranted criminal proceedings.

The Congress has raised several concerns relating to the SIR exercise, changes to Form 6 for voter enrolment, additions and deletions from electoral rolls and the management of the electoral-roll database.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has also criticised the Election Commission's functioning and called for action against Kumar. At the CWC meeting, Kharge reiterated the party's concerns and put forward demands relating to greater transparency in changes made to electoral rolls.

The issue is also expected to figure prominently in discussions among INDIA Bloc parties. Opposition leaders are scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss a joint response to the Election Commission controversy, including possible parliamentary action.

The Election Commission, however, has rejected suggestions that differences within the poll panel have affected its institutional functioning. In a statement issued on September 26, the Commission said decisions relating to the nationwide SIR had received the approval of all three Election Commissioners. It also said changes to the Form 6 process had been upheld by the Supreme Court.

The Commission has maintained that differing views and observations within a multi-member constitutional body are part of its normal deliberative process. It has also said that its orders have statutory backing and follow the established legal framework.

The SIR controversy intensified following reports of differences among Election Commissioners over aspects of electoral-roll procedures and the functioning of the Commission's systems. The Election Commission has sought to counter those reports by stressing that decisions concerning the SIR were taken collectively.

The Congress CWC's deliberations are expected to determine the party's next steps on the issue, including how it coordinates with other Opposition parties in the coming days.