28 September,2026 10:39 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Union minister Ramdas Athawale. File pic
Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Sunday defended Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid Opposition demands for his resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying that opposition to transparent electoral rolls amounts to opposition to the democratic system.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Athawale said the Election Commission is constitutionally independent and should be allowed to conduct the revision process to ensure transparent elections.
"The Election Commission is a constitutionally independent body. Demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and opposing transparent electoral rolls is an opposition to the democratic system itself," said Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India (A) and is a constituent of the BJP-led NDA.
Athawale said Kumar should not resign due to pressure from Opposition parties and claimed that there were no differences among the three election commissioners.
The Congress and several other parties have demanded Kumar's resignation following a recent investigation by The Indian Express, which claimed that two election commissioners had formally objected at least 14 times over 10 months to the Election Commission's handling of the SIR process.
The Election Commission has maintained that its three members took decisions, including those concerning the electoral-roll revision, unanimously.
Athawale said the revision of electoral rolls was necessary to ensure transparency during elections. He also said names of deceased voters should be removed from electoral rolls.
The Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment also sought an investigation into cases where more than 40 voters are registered at a single small house.
His remarks came amid the wider political dispute over the SIR exercise and allegations concerning voter-list irregularities.
Taking a dig at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has demanded Kumar's resignation, Athawale suggested that the outfit change its name to "Rajinama Janata Party", referring to its earlier demand for the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
"Every time, it is not right to demand someone's resignation," Athawale added.
The dispute over the SIR process has seen Opposition parties question the Election Commission's handling of electoral-roll revision, while the poll panel has said decisions were taken unanimously.
Athawale reiterated that the Election Commission should be allowed to carry out the revision process, arguing that transparent electoral rolls are essential for conducting elections.
(With inputs from PTI)
