23 opposition parties write to CJI over SIR:DMK says Election Commission’s exercise is arbitrary and undemocratic

23 opposition parties and one Independent MP have written to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) raising concerns over the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and other election-related issues. Saravanan Annadurai alleged that the SIR exercise is arbitrary and undemocratic. He claimed its objective is to remove voters from the electoral rolls, arguing that the foundation of democracy is to ensure every eligible adult citizen has the right to vote. SIR process affected people in various states The letter was signed by 23 opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress(INC), All India Trinamool Congress(TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, as well as Independent Kapil Sibal. According to sources, the signatories include Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, Hemant Soren, Omar Abdullah, along with leaders of Left parties. The letter states that when democratic institutions fail to function as expected, citizens look to the judiciary for protection and hope. It also raises concerns about the role of the Election Commission of India and the impact of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process on voters across several states. Congress General Secretary says oppn united on letter to Chief Justice Jairam Ramesh said the opposition remains united on the issue, stating that the decision to write to the Chief Justice of India was taken during the INDIA bloc meeting held on 8 June. In a post on X, Ramesh said the joint letter reflects the alliance’s collective concerns over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and related electoral issues. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stated on social media platform X that the decision to send the letter was taken at the India Bloc meeting on June 8. TMC alleges SIR process is being used to favour BJP TMC MP Sagarika Ghose has alleged that the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is being used to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party and influence election outcomes. She said this is why 23 opposition parties jointly wrote to the Chief Justice of India, seeking a judicial review of the electoral process and the implementation of the SIR exercise. Ghose added that this is the first time 23 opposition parties have collectively appealed to the judiciary to examine allegations that the SIR process is being used to favour. Kharge says INDIA bloc will write to CJI over SIR and electoral fairness Following the 7th INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on 8 June the alliance’s first in two years Mallikarjun Kharge announced that the opposition would write to the Chief Justice of India over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and the fairness of elections. The meeting was attended by leaders from 25 parties, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee, while Uddhav Thackeray and Hemant Soren joined virtually. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Kharge alleged that the names of millions of voters had been removed during the SIR exercise and said the alliance would seek the CJI’s intervention on the issue and on ensuring free and fair elections. He also urged the government to convene an all-party meeting to discuss inflation, unemployment and the economy. Kharge said the INDIA bloc would meet every two months, with the next meeting scheduled for 8 August in Hyderabad. ​