CPI(M) MP Demands Probe Into Election Commission Internal Dissent

Sivadasan insists on an immediate freeze of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, arguing that the integrity of the voting process remains compromised. According to reports, commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised concerns regarding critical protocols, including voter registration, deletion procedures, and centralized control over the national database.

The parliamentarian contends that the Election Commission is legally bound to function through consensus or majority rule, a standard he claims has been bypassed. He argues that a constitutional body managing the rights of millions cannot operate under a cloud of administrative secrecy. Beyond an independent inquiry into these procedural irregularities, Sivadasan is pressing the Centre to revert to the Supreme Court’s March 2023 mandate for selecting election commissioners. This framework would require the appointment panel to include the Chief Justice of India alongside the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, a move intended to insulate the poll watchdog from executive overreach.