Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 25: Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should firmly address questions being raised over the electoral process and ensure that public trust in elections is not eroded.

Paswan, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader, was responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s demand for Kumar’s resignation amid the ongoing controversy over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

“If such questions are being raised against the Election Commission, I believe it is also the responsibility of the Election Commission, especially the CEC, to firmly present its side,” Paswan said. He added that doubts among people about the electoral process would be a matter of concern and the poll panel should clearly put forward its position.

Paswan said he was not concerned about the Opposition raising such issues, describing it as part of politics, but maintained that the Election Commission had a responsibility to address concerns regarding the electoral process.

The remarks came after an Indian Express report detailed objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on several issues related to the SIR exercise, including changes to voter registration procedures and concerns over the centralisation of electoral roll data. The two commissioners were reported to have raised objections on record at least 14 times over 10 months.

The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations and that decisions taken by the poll panel over the past year were unanimous decisions of the full Commission.

On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi demanded Kumar’s resignation and alleged that elections were being rigged. The allegations are disputed by the Election Commission and the ruling side.