New Delhi [India] October 16 (ANI): Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), slammed the poll body over the handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), questioning the systemic removal of millions of names and demanding accountability.
In a post on X, Chidambaram claimed that the controversial SIR process was abandoned for the remaining states and Union Territories only after mounting protests and judicial intervention.
"After the protests and the notice issued by the Supreme Court, wisdom has dawned on the ECI and Mr. Gyanesh Kumar S.I.R. has been abandoned for the 17 remaining States and UTs, and it will only be the customary SSR (special summary revision). Documents to prove citizenship need not be produced," Chidambaram posted.
The Congress leader questioned the selective application of the drive across states and alleged arbitrary deletions without following due process.
"Why were 20 States discriminated against under S.I.R. and 13,30,00,000 names (including the dead) were removed without Due Process? After removing crores of names illegally, now the ECI has undertaken another exercise to include the 'left out' voters!" he stated.
Demanding financial and institutional accountability for the exercise, Chidambaram targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar directly, asserting that public funds were wasted on the botched rollout.
"Mr. Gyanesh Kumar should be surcharged for the double expenditure," the Congress leader added.
On Thursday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued directives to 17 States and Union Territories to undertake a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls, setting January 1, 2027, as the qualifying date.
The exercise is being initiated under Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, aimed at updating voter rolls and enrolling eligible electors.
The 17 States and Union Territories included in this phase are: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
The letter stated that the schedule for states and Union Territories where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is ongoing or has recently concluded, including Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and Delhi, would be announced separately. The schedule for Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, where the exercise is yet to begin, will also be notified later, taking local weather conditions into account.
As per the timeline, polling stations will be rationalised by November 2. The draft electoral rolls are scheduled for publication on November 12, followed by a period for filing claims and objections until December 11. These submissions will be processed by December 28, while the final electoral rolls are expected to be released on January 4, 2027. (ANI)
"Gyanesh Kumar should be surcharged for double expenditure": P. Chidambaram slams ECI over SIR rollback and shift to SSR
