There has been a major upheaval in the country's politics amid sharp attacks by the opposition on the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the process of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. After sensational claims emerged in media reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had submitted their written objections at least 14 times on various decisions and orders related to SIR in the last 10 months, opposition parties have opened a direct front against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee has adopted a very aggressive attitude and has demanded the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner from the post and his immediate arrest. At the same time, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray have united and called it a direct attack on the Indian Constitution, electoral fairness and democratic system. Mamata Banerjee Demands CEC Arrest: 'Gyanesh Kumar does not have the moral right to hold office' While issuing a press conference and video message in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee made serious allegations on the functioning of the Election Commission. He said that despite repeated objections by both the Election Commissioners within the Commission, taking unilateral decisions proves that the impartial institution is being run in a 'unilateral' manner. Mamata Banerjee said in sharp words:
"This is the most shocking and unprecedented scam in history. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should be arrested immediately. He has no moral right left to hold this constitutional post."
He alleged that in the name of SIR of the voter list, names of lakhs of voters were removed from the list. He claimed that voters were disenfranchised during the elections in Bengal, hence fair elections should be conducted again in all those states on the basis of the old voter list. Mamata warned that as long as Gyanesh Kumar remains in office, the opposition's 'India' alliance will hold nationwide protests and launch a major movement from streets to Parliament on this issue. Omar Abdullah Reaction: 'If this is not an attack on the Constitution, what else is it?' Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed strong objection to the differences arising within the Election Commission and termed it as extremely worrying. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, he said:
"If this is not an open attack on the Constitution, then what is? Rahul Gandhi was absolutely right. Earlier too, at the time of delimitation, we had continuously raised questions on the opaque functioning of the Commission."
Omar Abdullah further said that when only two senior members of the top three commissioners of the constitutional body are expressing written disagreement on the decisions 14 times, then it becomes clear that everything is not well. He raised the question that if the people of the country lose faith in the fair electoral process, then what will be left in Indian democracy? Opposition Unity: Rahul, Kejriwal and Uddhav attack in unison Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while sharing a post on social media, alleged that theft of citizens' votes at the institutional level is a serious attack on the Constitution. He said that those who operate the election machinery arbitrarily will be held accountable. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal demanded immediate cancellation of the entire SIR process and restoration of the original voter list of previous years. Uddhav Thackeray demanded legal action against the Chief Election Commissioner, saying that an autonomous body like the Election Commission cannot be allowed to work like a branch of any political party. Election Commission Stance: What clarification did the Election Commission give on the reports of differences? The Election Commission has also given its official stand on these sharp attacks of opposition parties and media reports: Part of institutional deliberations: The Election Commission clarified that written objections on files, legal suggestions, technical objections and internal investigation are part of the normal and transparent functioning of any multi-member Constitutional Commission. Decisions taken unanimously: The Commission said that all final policy decisions, including SIR, have been implemented as per the laid down rules, legal provisions and with the collective consent of all the members of the Commission. The suggestions were aimed at making the electoral process flawless and securing the rights of voters, which is being unnecessarily given the form of controversy. Amidst this entire controversy, after the Supreme Court has already taken a strict stance on the appointment process of Election Commissioners and SIR notices, now the issue of internal functioning of the Election Commission has become the center of the biggest political conflict in the country.