All posts tagged: election commission

Shivakumar rejects charge of govt interference in SIR, accuses Oppn of ‘indulging in politics’

Shivakumar rejects charge of govt interference in SIR, accuses Oppn of ‘indulging in politics’

Published by Parlour News

Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar on Monday rejected the opposition charge of his government’s interference in the ongoing SIR process in the state, and accused the BJP and JD(S) of “engaging in politics” over the issue. DK Shivakumar said none from his government is interfering in the SIR process, and the officers involved are functioning under the command of the EC. (@CMofKarnataka) Asserting that officials involved in the SIR were working under the guidance of the Election Commission of India, he said, “Let the EC probe the allegations.” The CM was responding to a delegation of NDA leaders submitting a formal complaint to Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar earlier in the day, alleging “massive irregularities” in the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in the state and demanding an immediate inquiry and mandatory door-to-door re-verification of all enumeration forms. They also sought strict legal action against all officials and political functionaries found responsible for these “irregularities”. “We (Congress) have our own differences of opinion regarding how the Election Commission is conducting the SIR. We …

TMC rebel faction presses claim before Election Commission

TMC rebel faction presses claim before Election Commission

Published by Webster

The Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday said the full bench of the Election Commission gave it a “patient hearing” on its claim over the party, and expressed hope that the poll panel would respond shortly. Meanwhile, the Mamata Banerjee-led camp questioned the Election Commission’’s decision to grant an audience to the rebel faction, alleging that the meeting violated the poll body’’s own procedures.  Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

EC announces schedule for high-stakes Bankipur bypoll; voting on July 30

EC announces schedule for high-stakes Bankipur bypoll; voting on July 30

Published by Webster

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for the by-election to the Bankipur (182) Assembly constituency in Bihar. Polling will be held on July 30, while the counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on August 3, reported the IANS. The bypoll was necessitated after BJP National President Nitin Nabin resigned from his Assembly membership, leaving the Bankipur seat in Patna vacant. According to the Election Commission’s notification, the election process will begin on July 6 with the issue of the notification and the opening of nominations, as per the IANS. The key dates are: – July 6: Notification issued; nominations begin – July 13: Last date for filing nominations – July 14: Scrutiny of nomination papers – July 16: Last date for withdrawal of nominations – July 30: Polling day – August 3: Counting of votes and declaration of results Parties yet to announce candidates Despite the announcement of the poll schedule, neither the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nor the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has declared …

SC rejects Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan’s plea challenging Rajya Sabha setback: ‘Remedy is to approach EC’

SC rejects Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan’s plea challenging Rajya Sabha setback: ‘Remedy is to approach EC’

Published by Parlour News

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan’s plea challenging the rejection of her Rajya Sabha candidature in Madhya Pradesh. Top top court however said she can file an election petition against the move. New Delhi: Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan, centre, speaks as party leader Jitu Patwari, right, looks on during a party briefing at AICC office, in New Delhi, Friday, June 12, 2026. (PTI Photo/Salman Ali) (PTI06_12_2026_000096A) (PTI) The top court said that once a nomination is rejected, the only remedy is to approach the Election Commission (EC). “However erroneous the decision may be, once a nomination is rejected, the remedy ordinarily lies elsewhere. Is there any judgment of this Court where we have interfered at that stage?,” the court was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. However, the order comes days after a Congress team led by senior leaders like KC Venugopal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi met EC officials in this regard. This is a breaking news story. It will be updated. Disclaimer: We do not own any of the …

Congress urges EC to reverse Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination rejection

Congress urges EC to reverse Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination rejection

Published by Webster

The Congress has approached the Election Commission seeking an immediate reversal of the rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination from Madhya Pradesh. The party termed the order “egregious” and alleged it undermines democratic principles Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

‘Action illegal, no case against Meenakshi Natarajan’: Congress after EC meeting on RS candidature

‘Action illegal, no case against Meenakshi Natarajan’: Congress after EC meeting on RS candidature

Published by Parlour News

A team of Congress leaders met Election Commission officials on Wednesday over the Rajya Sabha candidature of Meenakshi Natarajan being cancelled in Madhya Pradesh. Following the key meet, Congress MPs Abhishek Manu Singhvi and KC Venugopal held a presser, calling the nomination cancellation “illegal”. AICC General Secretary and Madhya Pradesh in-charge Harish Chaudhary, state Assembly LoP Umang Singhar along with party candidate Meenakshi Natarajan, front centre. (PTI) Explaining the argument, Singhvi said the nomination was rejected citing a criminal case pending against Natarajan, but that is not the case. “The irony is that there is no criminal case that actually exists in law, that is established, that she could have disclosed,” Singhvi said. Venugopal on the other hand said the Congress delegation has made submissions to the EC and have been assured by the poll panel that they will look into the matter. The scrutiny and cancellation of Natarajan’s papers over alleged non-disclosure of some elements had sparked a huge controversy, with several Congress leaders staging a dharna outside the EC offices in Delhi and …

EC to meet Congress delegation over rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination on Wednesday

EC to meet Congress delegation over rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination on Wednesday

Published by Parlour News

Amid the ongoing protest by Congress over rejection of the nomination of party candidate Meenakshi Natarajan for the Rajya Sabha elections, the Election Commission agreed to meet a party’s delegation on Wednesday. Congress party workers sit in front of the Election Commission’s office for a dharna after the Congress Rajya Sabha candidate Meenakshi Natrajan’s nomination rejected by the Election Commission, in Bhopal. (Sanjeev Gupta) The announcement from the poll body comes after Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination for one of the three Rajya Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh was rejected on charges of concealing information in the affidavit. The Election Commission, in a letter addressed to the Congress President, gave appointment to a delegation of party leaders for a meeting at 12 pm on Wednesday. “I am directed to refer to the party’s letter dated 09.06.2026 on the subject cited above and to state that the Commission has considered the request made therein and decided to give an appointment to the delegation of Indian National Congress for an interaction at 1200 Noon on 10.06.2026 (Wednesday) at Nirvachan …

Election Commission officials ‘refused to meet us’ over our petition: Congress leaders

Election Commission officials ‘refused to meet us’ over our petition: Congress leaders

Published by Parlour News

New Delhi: Congress leaders on Tuesday slammed the BJP over the rejection of nomination papers of party candidate Meenakshi Natarajan and said when they approached the Election Commission to challenge the decision, officials “refused” to meet them, forcing the delegation to stage a sit-in outside its office. Congress party workers sit in front of the Election Commission’s office for a dharna after the Congress Rajya Sabha candidate Meenakshi Natrajan’s nomination rejected by the Election Commission, in Bhopal. (ANI Photo) (Sanjeev Gupta) They said people of the country are watching and every such action raises serious questions about the independence of institutions and the health of democracy. The Election Commission has invited a Congress delegation to meet it on Wednesday over the party’s demands. Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan, whose nomination papers for Rajya Sabha polls from Madhya Pradesh was rejected on Tuesday, lashed out at the BJP and accused it of “attempting to manipulate the Rajya Sabha election”. Addressing a press conference in Bhopal, she also accused the BJP of having “subverted elections in Madhya Pradesh” …

Supreme Court upholds Election Commission’s voter roll revision drive, calls it vital for fair elections

Supreme Court upholds Election Commission’s voter roll revision drive, calls it vital for fair elections

Published by Webster

The bench headed by CJI Surya Kant held that the exercise advances the “constitutional imperative of free and fair elections”. Disposing of a batch of petitions challenging the SIR exercise in Bihar, the apex court held that deletion from the voter list does not amount to a legal declaration that an individual is not a citizen. The top court agreed with the EC’s grounds for the SIR. Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

The Opposition’s Strategic Failures and India’s Democratic Crisis

The Opposition’s Strategic Failures and India’s Democratic Crisis

Published by Parlour News

5 min readMay 20, 2026 01:25 PM IST First published on: May 20, 2026 at 01:25 PM IST For nearly 12 years, the BJP has been the dominant political force in India. Despite repeated allegations by opposition parties regarding the misuse of institutions, unfair electoral practices, and abuse of state machinery, the BJP continues to expand its political influence. It does not hesitate to use every available political tool, including influencing investigative agencies and benefiting from a favourable Election Commission. Why, then, have opposition parties failed to develop a united and long-term strategy to confront such a challenge? They often fail to undertake serious introspection, strategic planning, or coordinated political action. One of the most significant political developments in recent years was the passage of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on December 21, 2023, amid a walkout by opposition parties, and the Rajya Sabha passed it the following day. The opposition failed to mount any effective …