Twenty-three Opposition parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the DMK, have written to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alleging bias by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and seeking the suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In the letter dated June 28, the parties accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of showing "open, unabashed support" to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and influencing electoral processes.
The signatories include the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK).
The Opposition alleged that the Election Commission had failed to act against violations of the Model Code of Conduct by the BJP while taking action against Opposition parties. It also questioned the Commission's independence, alleging that appointments made since 2014 had eroded public confidence in the institution.
The letter criticised the SIR exercise, alleging it was initiated without evidence of large-scale illegal inclusion of Bangladeshi immigrants in electoral rolls. It claimed the documentation requirements could disenfranchise Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, migrant workers, and economically weaker sections.
The parties also alleged irregularities during the exercise, including Booth Level Officers submitting forms without voters' consent and instances of deceased persons being shown as applicants.
Referring to West Bengal, the Opposition alleged that nearly 27 lakh names were deleted from electoral rolls under a category termed "logical discrepancies" and claimed the deletions disproportionately affected constituencies where the Trinamool Congress is strong.
The letter also raised concerns over elections in Delhi, Haryana and Maharashtra, Electronic Voting Machines, and the functioning of central agencies, including the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and National Investigation Agency.
The Opposition urged the Election Commission to suspend future SIR exercises and instead conduct any revision through door-to-door verification when no Assembly election is imminent.