Mumbai, Sep 26 Former Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Saturday backed a demand raised by at least two NDA allies for a clearer explanation from the EC regarding concerns raised by two Election Commissioners over the voter list revision, saying it concerns electoral democracy.
She linked West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya’s “Padma Bhushan” demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar to BJP’s “bumper” victory in the assembly polls in the eastern state.
She accused the BJP of giving “cover fire” to the CEC.
On two NDA allies seeking a clearer explanation from the Election Commission on concerns raised by two Election Commissioners about the voter list revision, Chaturvedi said it was the right demand.
“More than political, it (demand) is (being raised) for political accountability and democracy as they (EC) are the upholders of electoral democracy,” she told PTI Videos.
LJP (Ram Vilas), TDP and RLM on Friday sought a clearer explanation from the EC regarding concerns raised by two Election Commissioners over the voter list revision, with Union Minister Chirag Paswan warning that public faith in elections was at stake.
Paswan, who heads the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), said he was neither speaking for the poll panel nor endorsing the Opposition’s allegations. But the questions now before the public required a clearer response from the Commission.
Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha also called for an immediate clarification, while Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) Lok Sabha floor leader Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu said transparency would help strengthen confidence in the Constitutional institution.
West Bengal BJP chief Bhattacharya had said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar deserved a Padma Bhushan “at the very least”, and credited him with ensuring a violence-free assembly election in the state and “cleansing” the voter list by removing illegal Bangladeshis.
His defence of the CEC came amid a major controversy over the poll panel’s functioning after reports surfaced that two election commissioners had objected to decisions allegedly taken in their names during the SIR exercise.
“Such a comment was not expected from a mature leader like Samik Bhattacharya. It may be that he wanted to say a special thank you after BJP’s bumper victory in West Bengal (election),” Chaturvedi said.
(PTI News)
