EC Must Explain the Concerns Over SIR: Mahesh Goud

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud said the doubts surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were against the spirit of democracy. He demanded that the Election Commission provide a comprehensive explanation over the reported objections raised by Election Commissioners. Goud said the reported objections had strengthened the concerns already raised by the Congress over the handling of the SIR exercise. He also demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Election Commission, however, has maintained that its decisions related to the SIR were taken with the unanimous approval of all three commissioners, even as reports of internal objections have triggered a political debate.

Goud said protests would be held across Telangana on September 28, with the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar among the key demands. In Hyderabad, the protest is scheduled to begin at 10.30 am at the Ambedkar statue on Tank Bund, followed by a march. Similar protests are planned at district headquarters across the state. The Congress has been demanding greater clarity from the Election Commission over the issues surrounding the SIR process and the reported differences within the poll panel.