HT Interview: If Fingers Are Pointed, CEC Should Defend Himself, Says Chirag Paswan Amid SIR Row

New Delhi: Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan has said that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should defend the Election Commission if questions continue to be raised over its functioning amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Paswan said his concern was not primarily about the Opposition's allegations but about the doubts that could arise among ordinary citizens when questions are repeatedly raised against the poll panel.

“If the fingers are being raised, then he should defend himself. He should defend the whole Election Commission,” Paswan said in the interview.

‘Political parties cannot defend an independent constitutional body’

Paswan said political parties do not have access to the Election Commission's internal discussions and therefore cannot respond to questions about disagreements within the constitutional body.

He said the responsibility lies with the Election Commission, headed by the CEC, to clarify the situation and ensure that citizens do not develop doubts about the electoral process.

According to Paswan, if concerns are repeatedly raised, the Election Commission should communicate directly with the public, including through press conferences. He said the issue has become particularly important because of the ongoing political debate and Opposition calls for action against the CEC.

SIR controversy and concerns over EC functioning

The remarks come amid a wider controversy over reported differences within the Election Commission regarding electoral-roll revision and the SIR exercise.

The issue has drawn renewed political attention, with Opposition parties questioning the functioning of the poll panel and raising concerns about the electoral-roll revision process.

Paswan, however, said he does not have access to the Commission's internal meetings and therefore would not comment on whether the CEC should resign if reports of internal dissent prove to be correct.

“I have no idea. I don’t have access to their internal meetings,” he said, adding that his focus was on what citizens were thinking about the controversy.

‘Tomorrow I might have issues with the EC’

Paswan also underlined that the Election Commission is an independent constitutional body and said political parties should not be expected to defend it.

He argued that while the Opposition may be raising concerns today, his own party could potentially have disagreements with the Election Commission in the future. In such a situation, he said, political parties should be treated equally when dealing with the poll body.

His comments therefore place the emphasis on the Election Commission itself to explain its position and address concerns surrounding the SIR process.

Paswan stops short of backing CEC resignation

Asked directly whether CEC Gyanesh Kumar should resign if reports of dissent within the Commission are found to be true, Paswan declined to take a position.

He said he did not have sufficient information about the internal deliberations and would not simply respond to Opposition claims. Instead, he reiterated that the Election Commission should clarify the situation for citizens.

The controversy has kept the focus on the functioning of the Election Commission, its internal decision-making and the credibility of the electoral process as the debate over SIR continues.