INDIA bloc convenes emergency meeting, demands Chief Election Commissioner quit over SIR row

The INDIA bloc held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to mount a coordinated challenge to the Election Commission over its conduct of the Special Intensive Revision process, with member parties uniting behind a demand for the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation.

The opposition alliance has raised serious concerns about the manner in which the SIR exercise has been carried out, arguing that it undermines electoral integrity and disadvantages voters. The meeting signalled a sharp escalation in the bloc's confrontation with the poll body.

In a related development, the Election Commission moved to remove an additional declaration requirement that had been included in Form 6 for online applications in states where the SIR exercise has now concluded. The decision applies only to those states where the revision process is complete, suggesting the commission is beginning to wind down the controversial exercise on a state-by-state basis.