'Deliberations sign of pure democracy': BJP reacts to EC 'SIR split' row, targets Congress

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Wednesday defended the election commission over the row surrounding an alleged split among the poll panel's commissioners, with party MP Sambit Patra saying that internal deliberations between the three election commissioners were a sign of a healthy democracy. He also accused the Congress of attacking constitutional institutions after failing to win elections.Addressing a press conference, Patra referred to the EC's press note and said correspondence among the three election commissioners had taken place on 14 occasions."I am not here to hold a press conference on behalf of the Election Commission. I have brought the press note issued by the EC, and I have read it. I hope you have also read it," he said.Patra said the correspondence showed that the commissioners had formally exchanged views and consulted one another.He added, "But now there has been correspondence among the three commissioners on 14 occasions.