ITANAGAR, Sep 27: The Arunachal Pradesh unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for an evidence-based public debate on the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, while questioning the allegations and resignation demands directed at the poll panel.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP State Head Office here on Sunday, party spokesperson Tobom Dai referred to Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s statements on September 24 concerning the ECI and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Dai said constitutional institutions should not be subjected to serious allegations without proper verification of facts. He referred to the ECI’s clarification issued on September 26 in response to issues raised following a report published by a national daily regarding alleged differences within the Commission and the SIR process.
According to the clarification, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi held a full Commission meeting and stated that decisions concerning the SIR had been taken with the approval of the full Commission. The ECI also addressed questions related to communication with the Cabinet Secretary and the Form-6 process.
The BJP spokesperson said the Commission’s clarification should be considered alongside media reports and political statements when assessing the controversy. He maintained that electoral matters should be discussed through verified information and established constitutional and legal procedures.
Dai questioned the basis of demands seeking the resignation of the CEC, citing the ECI’s position that SIR-related decisions were taken unanimously by the full Commission. He also alleged that opposition criticism of constitutional institutions intensified when electoral outcomes were unfavourable to the Congress and its allies.
Calling for consistent respect for constitutional institutions, Dai said the credibility of democratic processes depended on public discussions being grounded in evidence, official records and due process.
Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh BJP president Kaling Moyong, in a social-media post, said the electoral process and constitutional institutions should be respected irrespective of political outcomes. He also referred to the ECI’s clarification regarding unanimous approval of the SIR decision.
BJP MP Tapir Gao also commented on the issue on social media, referring to the ECI’s clarification on unanimous decision-making concerning the SIR and stressing the need to respect democratic institutions and the electoral mandate.
The BJP reiterated that matters relating to electoral rolls, the ECI and the SIR process are of public importance and should be discussed responsibly and transparently on the basis of verified information.