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Election Chiefs' Disagreement Proves Process Integrity, Not Wrongdoing
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News18•25-09-2026, 15:16
Election Chiefs' Disagreement Proves Process Integrity, Not Wrongdoing
- •An Indian Express investigation revealed two election commissioners objected to poll panel processes 14 times in 10 months, sparking opposition claims of overreach.
- •The article argues that disagreement among the three-member Election Commission of India (ECI) is normal and proof of a robust, working system, not wrongdoing.
- •The ECI clarified that all decisions, including those on SIR, were unanimous, rejecting suggestions of an internal split and emphasizing that no process was bypassed.
- •Specific objections, like changes to Form 6 wording, are presented as procedural disputes, not evidence of vote manipulation or election rigging.
- •The article dismisses claims of bias by highlighting that deletions in West Bengal seats were split between BJP and TMC, and no court has red-flagged ECI decisions.
Key Questions Answered
An investigation revealed that two election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, recorded formal objections 14 times over 10 months regarding processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Form 6 requirements, voter deletions, and electoral data centralization.
The Election Commission rejected claims of a rift, stating that differing views and internal deliberations are a normal part of decision-making, and emphasized that all major decisions, including those regarding SIR, were taken unanimously.
The law governing the Election Commission and a 1995 Supreme Court judgment stipulate that decisions should be taken unanimously as far as possible, and where unanimity is not achievable, the majority view prevails.
