The INDIA bloc has intensified its challenge to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with 23 political parties and one Independent jointly writing to the Chief Justice of India seeking judicial intervention over the exercise and other election-related issues.
The joint representation signals a broader show of Opposition unity on electoral issues. According to Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, the decision to approach the Chief Justice was taken during an INDIA bloc meeting on June 8 and has now been backed by 23 political parties, along with one Independent member. The inclusion of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) comes after discussions among alliance partners, sources told ANI.
INDIA bloc says more parties backed the joint appeal
In a post on X, Ramesh said 21 political parties and one Independent had attended the June 8 INDIA Janbandhan meeting, where the proposal to write to the Chief Justice was approved.
He said the letter has now been signed by 23 political parties and one Independent.
“The Opposition parties are firmly anchored in SURE–Solidarity, Unity and REsistance,” Ramesh wrote.
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien also confirmed that the AAP and the DMK were among the signatories.
Opposition alleges concerns over SIR process
Speaking to ANI, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose alleged that the SIR exercise was being used to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said the Opposition had sought judicial scrutiny of the electoral process.
“There is complete unity, complete unity in the non-NDA opposition, that the SIR process is being used for the benefit of the BJP to manipulate election results,” Ghose said.
She described the joint letter as an unprecedented step and said the judiciary had been approached over what the Opposition alleged was the manipulation of the electoral process.
Ghose also rejected suggestions of divisions within the Opposition alliance.
“The non-NDA opposition is completely united… We are going to move forward in a spirit of complete unity, solidarity, and resistance against the BJP and the manner in which it is trying to hijack Indian democracy,” she said.
Kharge had outlined Opposition’s concerns
At the June 8 INDIA Janbandhan meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had called for greater coordination among Opposition parties and urged them to build on what he described as their united stand in the Lok Sabha on April 17.
Kharge accused the government of weakening democratic institutions and raised concerns over the SIR process, inflation, unemployment, alleged misuse of investigative agencies, the condition of MSMEs, the examination system and foreign policy.
He alleged that the voting rights of millions were being affected because of the SIR exercise and urged Opposition parties to continue working together on these issues.