A purported resignation letter of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar went viral on social media amid the ongoing political row over the Special
Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission, however, dismissed the document, even as opposition parties have been demanding Kumar's resignation following reports of differences within the poll panel over SIR-related decisions and orders. Responding to the so-called "resignation letter", an EC spokesperson described it as "fake". Regarding the news report, the EC on Saturday asserted that all orders related to the SIR exercise were issued after approval from all three election commissioners, and the changes in Form 6, through which names are included in the voters' list, have been upheld by the Supreme Court. In a statement, EC said that letters sent by the two commissioners to the Cabinet secretary were not related to any policy matter of the commission or its IT division, but to the working of an officer on deputation to the poll panel. The work re-distribution orders issued by the officer concerned were not actually implemented after the orders of the two commissioners, and the oversight over the IT division by the deputy election commissioner was never actually withdrawn, the EC said in the statement issued with the approval of the full Commission.
INDIA bloc gears up for big action
INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss their concerns over the Election Commission. The parties have been in touch with each other on the issue and are discussing a joint response, sources added.
The Congress Working Committee is scheduled to meet on September 29 to discuss its strategy on the issue.
Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal notice against CEC Kumar, which is likely to be submitted in both Houses of Parliament after being vetted by legal experts. It would be the third such attempt by the opposition.
