Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 30: The opposition INDIA bloc faced fresh coordination challenges on Wednesday as the Samajwadi Party (SP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stayed away from a key meeting in New Delhi to discuss the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The meeting was convened to discuss the opposition's strategy on the SIR exercise, the functioning of the Election Commission and issues concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. A possible motion seeking Kumar's removal was also among the matters on the agenda.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav did not attend the meeting in person, with the party citing his commitments related to the Rajya Sabha biennial elections in Uttar Pradesh. The SP planned to send representatives instead. Reports also said the party's absence came amid ongoing seat-sharing discussions with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
The DMK also stayed away from the meeting. The party had earlier distanced itself from the INDIA bloc following its differences with the Congress in Tamil Nadu, including the Congress's support for actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government, according to reports.
The AAP, which has publicly distanced itself from the INDIA bloc, also decided not to participate. However, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the party would support opposition parties on a proposed motion against the Chief Election Commissioner.
The developments have highlighted differences among opposition parties over alliance coordination, regional political arrangements and strategy ahead of upcoming elections. BJP leaders have criticised the opposition over the absences and questioned the cohesion of the bloc.
The meeting is also taking place amid an ongoing legal challenge concerning the SIR process and the functioning of the Election Commission. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition challenging aspects of the functioning of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the legality of the SIR process.
The opposition parties have raised concerns over the SIR exercise and proposed further political and parliamentary action on the issue. The meeting is expected to consider ways to coordinate their response to the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process.