Andhra Pradesh CM says unanimous decisions on electoral-roll revision reaffirm institutional credibility and urges political parties to protect public trust
New Delhi, Sept 2026 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday welcomed the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) clarification on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying the panel’s position reaffirmed the credibility of the country’s constitutional institutions.
In a post on X, Naidu said the clarification issued following the meeting of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had addressed concerns surrounding the functioning of the poll panel. He said decisions concerning SIR were taken collectively and in accordance with established institutional procedures.
The ECI on Saturday said decisions relating to the schedule of the SIR exercise had received the unanimous approval of the full Commission. The clarification came amid a political controversy over reports of differences within the three-member poll panel. The Commission has maintained that individual observations or queries raised during deliberations did not amount to disagreement with its final decisions.
Naidu said attempts to weaken confidence in India’s democratic institutions for short-term political gains were “deeply unfortunate”. He stressed that electoral results reflected the mandate of voters and argued that political leaders should accept both victories and defeats with humility.
The TDP chief also called for political parties across the spectrum to respect constitutional institutions and contribute to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process. His comments came as the ECI faced questions from opposition parties over the SIR exercise and its internal decision-making.
Naidu’s intervention also reflects the position of the TDP, a key constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre. However, his statement focused on the broader principle of institutional credibility rather than specific electoral outcomes or political disputes.
The ECI’s clarification covered several issues related to SIR, including the decision-making process and the role of Form 6. The poll panel has said that all final decisions concerning SIR were approved unanimously by the three commissioners. Reports had earlier highlighted objections and queries raised by Sandhu and Joshi during internal deliberations, but the Commission has maintained that such exchanges were part of the normal decision-making process.
The Commission has also clarified that Form 6 remains available for voter registration, while an additional declaration under Annexure D is required in the SIR process where applicable. Sources within the poll panel said the relevant SIR orders had received the approval of all three commissioners.
Naidu said safeguarding public trust in democratic institutions was a collective responsibility of political leaders. He urged parties to ensure that political disagreements did not erode confidence in institutions responsible for conducting elections.
The TDP president’s remarks come amid an ongoing debate over the SIR exercise, electoral-roll management and the functioning of the Election Commission. While opposition parties have raised concerns over transparency and decision-making, the ECI has repeatedly maintained that its final decisions have been taken unanimously and in accordance with established procedures.
