A heated debate on electoral reforms erupted in Parliament on Tuesday, with the opposition led by Congress MP Manish Tewari launching a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), questioning both its neutrality and its legal authority to conduct the ongoing Special Intensive
Speaking to reporters in Saharanpur, the former Chief Minister of UP said the country was "paying the price for big slogans that never translated into real outcomes".
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday launched a sharp attack on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh, alleging a "conspiracy" to delete voters belonging to the Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (PDA) communities.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, calling him "nalayak" (useless), after the latter criticised the Opposition for obstructing Parliamentary proceedings over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.
With the adjournment of both houses, Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi said on Tuesday that the government is not ready to speak up on any issue, despite the ongoing irregularities in voter lists and the worsening Delhi pollution.
"At a time when faith in institutions is already strained, irregularities in voter lists raise serious questions about the commitment of authorities to uphold the democratic mandate," Gogoi wrote in his notice to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General.
Senior party leaders reached out to households across several localities, urging residents to complete their voter registration formalities and contribute to what they described as a transparent and essential democratic exercise.
Ahead of the Winter Session of the Parliament, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav said that the House will not function if there is no discussion on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter lists in the 12 States and Union Territories.
Calling the revision exercise as "unplanned and one-sided," the Congress MPs have flagged the alleged extreme pressure put on Booth Level Officers (BLOs), resulting in deaths and exhaustion.
Election Commission of India (ECI) alleged that the increased honorarium for the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and an additional Rs 6,000 for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists approved by the poll body have not yet been paid by the TMC government in West Bengal.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday announced a revised schedule for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 States and Union Territories, extending several key deadlines by one week.