Cong gives notice for RS debate, resolution on Uttarakhand

April 23, 2016

New Delhi, Apr 23: Upping the ante on the Uttarakhand political crisis, Congress leaders have given notices to discuss the matter in Rajya Sabha suspending the question hour and adoption of a resolution condemning the imposition of President's Rule there.

The notices given by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and Deputy Leader of Congress in the House, Anand Sharma, seek to corner the government on the issue accusing it of "destabilising" a democratically-elected government in Uttarakhand.

In his notice given under Rule 267, Sharma has also sought from Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari the passage of a resolution condemning the Modi government for "destabilistion" of the Uttarakhand government and imposition of President's Rule in the state.

The resolution reads "this House deplores the destabilisation of the democratically elected government in Uttarakhand and disapproves the unjustified imposition of President's Rule there under Article 356 of the Constitution."

Ever since the dismissal of the Rawat government and clamping of central rule, Congress has mounted an offensive against the Narendra Modi dispensation.

The party had started 'Loktantra Bachao, Uttarakhand Bachao' (Save Democracy, Save Uttarakhand) campaign to mobilise public support against the Centre.

The Supreme Court yesterday stayed till April 27 the judgement of the state High Court quashing imposition of President's rule, giving a new turn to the continuing political drama in the state by restoring central rule there.

Congress is trying to project the imposition of President's Rule in Uttarakhand and earlier in another party- ruled state of Arunachal Pradesh as an "attack" on the federal structure and is hopeful that a large number of Opposition parties will back it in cornering the government on the issue.

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Over 58 lakh names dropped from draft voter list in Bengal ahead of polls

News Network

December 16,2025

The deletion of over 58 lakh names from West Bengal’s draft electoral rolls following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has sparked widespread concern and is likely to deepen political tensions in the poll-bound state.

According to the Election Commission, the revision exercise has identified 24 lakh voters as deceased, 19 lakh as relocated, 12 lakh as missing, and 1.3 lakh as duplicate entries. The draft list, published after the completion of the first phase of SIR, aims to remove errors and duplication from the electoral rolls.

However, the scale of deletions has raised fears that a large number of eligible voters may have been wrongly excluded. The Election Commission has said that individuals whose names are missing can file objections and seek corrections. The final voter list is scheduled to be published in February next year, after which the Assembly election announcement is expected. Notably, the last Special Intensive Revision in Bengal was conducted in 2002.

The development has intensified the political row over the SIR process. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress have strongly opposed the exercise, accusing the Centre and the Election Commission of attempting to disenfranchise lakhs of voters ahead of the elections.

Addressing a rally in Krishnanagar earlier this month, Banerjee urged people to protest if their names were removed from the voter list, alleging intimidation during elections and warning of serious consequences if voting rights were taken away.

The BJP, meanwhile, has defended the revision and accused the Trinamool Congress of politicising the issue to protect what it claims is an illegal voter base. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the ruling party fears losing power due to the removal of deceased, fake, and illegal voters.

The controversy comes amid earlier allegations by the Trinamool Congress that excessive work pressure during the SIR led to the deaths by suicide of some Booth Level Officers (BLOs), for which the party blamed the Election Commission. With the draft list now out, another round of political confrontation appears imminent.

As objections begin to be filed, the focus will be on whether the correction mechanism is accessible, transparent, and timely—critical factors in ensuring that no eligible voter is denied their democratic right ahead of a crucial election.

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