Agartala, Sep 24 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday said there could be differences of opinion among EC members, but the decision to undertake a nationwide SIR exercise was ultimately taken by the poll panel.
His remarks came in the wake of opposition leader Jitendra Chaudhury’s demand for the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
“As if the opposition parties have gained Mritasanjivani mantra… The foundation of democracy is strong in our country. There may be differences of opinion among the three-member Election Commission (EC), but ultimately there was a decision to undertake SIR to clean the electoral rolls,” Saha told reporters.
In Hindu mythology, the Mritasanjivani mantra is believed to have the power to revive the dead.
The remarks came a day after a report in The Indian Express said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections to decisions and administrative instructions linked to the SIR process.
Saha said opposition parties were trying to mislead people over the reported differences within the poll panel.
Chaudhury, meanwhile, sought Kumar’s removal from the post, referring to the news report.
“We have been vocal against the role of CEC Gyanesh Kumar right from the beginning because of his alleged proximity to the ruling dispensation. The media has ultimately exposed the CEC, which is dangerous for democracy,” he said in a social media post.
Alleging that Kumar had been favouring the BJP, Chaudhury said the CEC had deliberately ignored the opinions of the other two Election Commissioners during the SIR process.
“Kumar should be removed immediately because crucial elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, early next year. Elections will not be impartial under Kumar,” he said.
(PTI News)
