NDA unease over EC-SIR row? 3 BJP allies seek answers as oppn turns up heat

NEW DELHI: Unease within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over a media report concerning Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar surfaced on Friday, with three BJP allies urging the Election Commission of India (ECI) to issue a clearer response.Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Chirag Paswan was the first NDA ally to urge the ECI to dispel “misgivings in the minds of the people.”“Let me make it clear that, as part of the government, I do not intend to defend what is a constitutional body. I am also not much worried about the allegations made by the opposition, which will always take a stand that suits it politically,” Paswan told reporters in Patna.“However, if people start losing trust in the electoral system, that will not augur well for democracy. Therefore, I think the Election Commission must come out with its clarification more forcefully.