Stories
Mani Shankar Aiyar Slams CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Actions as "Disgraceful" Amid SIR Row
- •Congress veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar criticized Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's conduct as "disgraceful" regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- •Aiyar stated that the actions taken by the government concerning the SIR are illegal, despite acknowledging their election.
- •The controversy stems from a report alleging that two election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, objected multiple times to SIR decisions made without their knowledge.
- •Aiyar disagreed with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's call to dissolve the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, believing the Election Commission was autonomous until recently.
- •He emphasized that while constitutional bodies like the Supreme Court are inherently autonomous, the subversion of this autonomy occurs through non-transparent appointment methods for commissioners and judges.
Key Questions Answered
Mani Shankar Aiyar criticized Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) row and a media report stating that two election commissioners had objected on record multiple times to decisions issued without their knowledge or recommendation, which he deemed illegal.
No, Mani Shankar Aiyar stated that he did not agree with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's call to dissolve the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies and demand fresh elections by ballot paper.
A report by The Indian Express revealed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected on record at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and orders concerning the SIR exercise that were issued without their knowledge or recommendation.