INDIA bloc leaders challenge EC over voter roll deletions

A coalition of eleven leaders from the INDIA bloc opposition alliance has moved the Election Commission of India seeking intervention over the deletion of voter names from Supplementary Impression Rolls (SIR), raising concerns about electoral fairness. The petition highlights instances where large numbers of registered voters have been struck off electoral rolls in recent months, with the bloc alleging the deletions may disenfranchise supporters ahead of upcoming elections. Rahul Gandhi and his coalition partners contend that the process lacks adequate transparency and due process, with many deletions occurring without proper notification to affected voters. The opposition leaders have called for a comprehensive review of SIR deletions and sought implementation of stricter safeguards to prevent arbitrary removal of eligible voters from electoral registers. The Election Commission has not yet issued a formal response to the petition, though the agency has historically maintained that voter deletions follow established protocols to maintain accurate electoral rolls and remove entries for deceased persons or those who have relocated.