SIR dissent row | 3 NDA allies seek clarification from Election Commission

New Delhi: As the criticism against the Election Commission intensifies, parties of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have asked the poll body to clarify its position so that there are no misgivings on the controversy over alleged illegalities in managing mapping electoral rolls. Telugu Desam Party, Lok Janshakti Party, Rashtriya Lok Morcha, and United People’s Party Liberal are among the parties that have asked the EC to respond.

The statements from the various parties of the ruling alliance came after the BJP came out in support of the poll body, and said that deliberations through letters indicate that this is a democratic exchange.

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LJP (Ramvilas) leader and union minister Chirag Paswan, speaking to reporters in his constituency Hajipur on Friday said that this could lead to people losing faith in the poll body. “If the people start losing trust in the electoral system that will not augur well for democracy and, therefore, I think the Election Commission must come out with its clarification more forcefully. It need not respond to what Rahul Gandhi and his associates are saying. But it must dispel misgivings in the minds of the people,” Paswan said.

TDP leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu said that while the SIR exercise was “conducted in a transparent manner” in Andhra Pradesh, the EC must react on the issue. “The Election Commission of India is a constitutional institution entrusted with a crucial responsibility in our democracy. Therefore, whenever questions are raised by anyone, providing appropriate clarification and maintaining transparency will only help strengthen public confidence in the institution,” Lavu told DH.

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United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), an ally of BJP in Assam, called for formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate the allegations involving the CEC. “A parliamentary committee comprising members from all parties should investigate the matter and restore faith in the Election Commission of India,” UPPL general secretary Raju Kumar Narzary told DH on Friday.

With three MPs, (one Loksabha, two RS), UPPL is part of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. The party was part of the BJP-led government in Assam between 2021 and 2025 but it lost all seats it contested in the Assembly elections held in April 2026. Bodoland People's Front, its rival in Bodoland region in Assam, replaced UPPL as the main ally in the present state government. A leader of BPF, however, refused to react to the controversy.

Rashtriya Lok Morcha leader Upendra Kushwaha posted on X that the EC must dispel doubts. “A great deal of confusion has arisen among the public regarding the controversy related to EVMs. The matter needs to be addressed. To dispel the confusion, the Election Commission should immediately issue a clarification on the correct position,” he said.