The Bharatiya Janata Party has responded to the Congress Working Committee’s recent criticism of the Election Commission of India, with BJP leader Smriti Irani questioning the opposition party’s position on electoral roll revisions and asking it to introspect.
The latest exchange comes amid an ongoing political dispute over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Congress has raised concerns about the process and has demanded action concerning the Election Commission, while the BJP has defended the poll body and questioned the Congress’s allegations.
Speaking at a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Smriti Irani said the Election Commission plays an important role in India’s democratic system. She said the institution represents the dignity of Indian democracy and argued that it should not be targeted on the basis of political disagreements.
Irani’s comments came a day after the Congress Working Committee adopted a resolution raising several concerns about the Special Intensive Revision. The Congress has demanded the suspension of the SIR process and has questioned the functioning of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party has also sought restoration of voter names that it says were wrongly removed from electoral rolls.
The BJP has taken a different position on the issue. Irani questioned the Congress’s demand for restoration of names and asked why duplicate entries or names of deceased persons should remain on electoral rolls. She referred to the Election Commission’s stated verification process and said the concerns raised by the Congress should be considered in the context of maintaining accurate electoral rolls.
The dispute is centred on the Special Intensive Revision, an exercise aimed at reviewing and updating electoral rolls. The process has become a major political issue, with opposition parties raising questions about the removal of names and the procedures followed by election officials.
The Congress has argued that eligible voters could be affected if names are removed from electoral rolls without adequate verification or an opportunity to respond. The party has called for greater transparency in the revision process and has demanded access to relevant electoral data.
The BJP, however, has highlighted the need to remove duplicate entries and the names of deceased persons from electoral rolls. Irani asked whether the Congress also questions the Election Commission in states where the BJP is not in power. She specifically referred to states including Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala and Karnataka.
Irani also referred to the political history of the Congress during her criticism of the party. She questioned the Congress’s references to its historical sessions and discussed the circumstances surrounding the party’s formation. These comments formed part of her broader political response to the Congress’s criticism of the Election Commission.
The BJP leader also argued that the Congress should examine its electoral performance instead of directing its criticism at the Election Commission. This was presented by Irani as the BJP’s political response to the Congress’s allegations concerning the poll body.
The Congress, meanwhile, maintains that its concerns relate to the electoral roll revision process and the protection of eligible voters. The party has argued that electoral transparency is essential and has called for scrutiny of the manner in which names have been removed from voter lists.
The disagreement therefore involves two separate positions. The Congress is questioning aspects of the SIR process and seeking changes in how electoral rolls are revised, while the BJP is defending the Election Commission’s role and questioning the Congress’s objections to the removal of duplicate and deceased entries.
The Election Commission has previously explained that its electoral roll revision process includes verification mechanisms. According to reports, Booth Level Officers are involved in verification and may visit the homes of individuals who receive notices as part of the SIR process.
The political dispute is also taking place alongside discussions among opposition parties. The INDIA bloc has been considering a coordinated response to the SIR issue and concerns regarding the functioning of the Election Commission. The Congress has sought support from other opposition parties for its demands.
For voters, the dispute is particularly relevant because electoral roll revisions can affect whether an eligible citizen’s name appears on the voter list. Individuals should check their registration status through official Election Commission channels and follow the prescribed process if they need to correct or update their electoral details.
The BJP’s latest response adds another dimension to the ongoing political debate. While the Congress is demanding greater scrutiny of the SIR process, the BJP is arguing that electoral rolls must also be protected from duplicate and invalid entries.
The issue is expected to remain a subject of political discussion as opposition parties consider further action and the Election Commission continues its electoral roll revision procedures. The positions expressed by the Congress and BJP represent their respective political arguments, while the formal electoral process remains governed by the Election Commission and applicable election laws.
