Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal Chief and Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly Shri Naveen Patnaik has demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, citing sharp internal differences within the Election Commission of India.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly in Bhubaneswar, Shri Patnaik expressed severe concerns over reported disagreements among the election commissioners regarding the operational execution of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Addressing the media, Shri Patnaik highlighted that the growing rift within the top tier of the poll panel undermines the integrity of the process. He stated that because of the strong and sharp differences between various Election Commissioners, the Chief Election Commissioner should step down immediately, and the entire revision exercise must undergo a thorough re-evaluation.
BJD Supremo Shri Patnaik reiterated that his party has stood firmly against the implementation of the SIR process from its inception.
The demand follows media reports revealing internal friction among the three-member commission over key procedures, including guidelines for voter registration forms, access to voter data, and the deletion and addition of names in the electoral rolls.
The BJD had previously raised concerns over the exercise in Odisha, alleging widespread discrepancies in the deletion of voters from the state electoral lists. The party maintains that the ongoing issues within the Election Commission warrant an immediate halt and a full review of the revision initiative.