"Rulers selecting their voters": CPI MP Sandosh Kumar calls SIR "Special Intensive Removal"

New Delhi [India], January 27 (ANI): Communist Party of India (CPI) MP P Sandosh Kumar on Tuesday labelled the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive being carried out in various states by the Election Commission of India (ECI) as "Special Intensive Removal", alleging that the principle of democracy was being reversed.
He claimed that instead of voters choosing their representatives, "the rulers are selecting their voters."
"We have raised many issues. The main issue, however, was the SIR, which now stands for Special Intensive Removal. Normally in a democracy, voters elect their ruler, but here, the reverse is happening. The rulers are selecting their voters. The Election Commission has become an eradication commission. In the name of Maoism, tribals are getting killed, especially in the Bastar area of Chhattisgarh," Kumar told ANI after attending the all-party meeting.
He demanded that the Government must place before Parliament and the people the full details and current status of the operation, ensuring transparency and accountability.
On foreign policy, the CPI MP said, "India's approach is in a state of complete paralysis, with no firm response to Donald Trump's bullying postures, nor to major international developments such as the situation in Venezuela or statements threatening the annexation of Greenland, which undermines India's independent foreign policy tradition."
Kumar reiterated its demand for an immediate wage increase for ASHA workers, as assured earlier by the Union Health Minister.
He also demanded the immediate restoration of MNREGA, noting that delayed wage payments, shrinking allocations, and reduced workdays have gravely affected rural livelihoods. MNREGA remains a crucial employment and income-support mechanism during agrarian distress and rising unemployment and must be expanded and fully funded.
CPI MP further called for the withdrawal of the anti-labour Labour Codes, opposed the anti-farmer Seed Bill, and demanded that the Union Government's share in Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) be increased to 75:25, enabling states to effectively implement welfare and development programmes.
Sandosh Kumar emphasised that these critical issues must be addressed during the forthcoming Budget Session in the interests of democracy, federalism and the livelihood security of the people.
Sandosh Kumar's remarks come after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired an all-party meeting today ahead of the Budget session, which will begin on January 28 and run until April 2.
Senior leaders, including Rajnath Singh, Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister JP Nadda, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pramod Tiwari, AITC leader Shatabdi Roy, MNM founder Kamal Haasan, Tamil Maanila Congress leader GK Vasan, and SP leader Ramgopal Yadav and many other senior leaders attended the meeting.
The meeting, held in the main Committee Room of Parliament, outlined the agenda for the upcoming Budget session.
The Budget Session will commence on January 28 and continue till April 2, with one break. The first phase is scheduled from January 28 to February 13, while the second phase will run from March 9 to April 2.
The Budget Session will feature 30 sittings, with the Union Budget 2026-27 being presented on February 1. President Droupadi Murmu will formally open the session, addressing members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
In the last two sessions, including the monsoon and winter sessions in 2025, the Opposition parties have sought to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, which is underway across the country. (ANI)