EC 'dissent' row: Oppn seeks fresh polls, CEC's arrest; BJP lauds 'pure democracy'

NEW DELHI: The reported objections raised by two Election Commissioners to decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls triggered a major political confrontation on Wednesday, with opposition parties demanding action against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, an immediate halt to the SIR exercise and fresh elections in states where polls have already been held.The ruling BJP, however, defended the Election Commission, saying differences expressed by Election Commissioners during internal deliberations showed that the poll panel was functioning democratically rather than under a “dictatorial” system.The political row followed a media report which said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and orders related to the SIR process and electoral rolls.The Election Commission has rejected the suggestion that the reported objections indicated a breakdown in its functioning.It said differing views and observations were a normal…