Opposition parties write to CJI over SIR, raise concerns over Election Commission

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jun 30, 2026: Twenty-three Opposition parties and Independent MP Kapil Sibal on Tuesday jointly wrote to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, raising concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the alleged biased functioning of the Election Commission, and what they described as attempts to manipulate electoral outcomes.

The joint letter, initiated by the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, gained additional support with the participation of the DMK and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), despite both parties having distanced themselves from the Opposition alliance in recent months.

The move follows a decision taken at the I.N.D.I.A. bloc meeting held on June 8, attended by representatives of 22 political parties and Independent MP Kapil Sibal, where leaders agreed to approach the Chief Justice over their concerns regarding the electoral process.

According to Opposition leaders, the four-page letter appeals to the judiciary’s conscience, arguing that when democratic institutions fail, citizens look to the judiciary to safeguard constitutional values. The letter reportedly cites instances from various states where the Opposition alleges that the election machinery and the SIR process have been misused, while also questioning the Election Commission’s impartiality.

Although the contents of the letter were not made public, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh confirmed that it had been signed by 23 political parties and one Independent MP before being submitted to the Chief Justice. Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien also confirmed on social media that both the DMK and AAP had joined the initiative.

The participation of the DMK and AAP is being viewed as a boost for the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A. bloc ahead of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. The DMK had earlier skipped the June 8 Opposition meeting following differences with the Congress, while AAP had formally exited the alliance in 2024.

The letter was signed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and several other Opposition leaders.

At the June 8 meeting, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc had resolved to jointly oppose what it described as the BJP-RSS’s actions and decided to write to the Chief Justice, seek the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-CBSE controversy, and demand an all-party meeting on the country’s economic situation. The meeting was the alliance’s first since December 2023.