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Communist Party of India (CPI) National General Secretary D Raja on Wednesday strongly asserted that the Election Commission of India (ECI) must maintain its neutrality, while also calling for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to understand that the ECI is a "constitutional body".
The remarks came after the INDIA bloc parties wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Tuesday regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and other election-related issues. Speaking to ANI, D Raja highlighted that elections in states such as West Bengal, Bihar, and Mahrashtra have directly contradicted the EC's mandate of holding unbiased elections. "The BJP should understand that the Election Commission is a constitutional body. Election Commission should ensure the right to vote of all eligible citizens and ensure free and fair elections. But what we witnessed in Bihar, West Bengal and Maharashtra tells a different story. Several states have made complaints, and this is a serious matter," he said Further, he emphasised the need to protect the constitutional neutrality and independence of the ECI. "EC's constitutional neutrality and independence must be protected. For this, the parties in the INDIA bloc have taken up this issue with the Chief Justice of India. Let us see what the Chief Justice is going to do," he said. On Tuesday, the INDIA bloc parties, with the Aam Aadmi Party and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on board, wrote a joint letter to the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant. Sources told ANI the INDIA bloc managed to get signatures of the DMK and AAP in the joint letter after hectic talks. This came as a major breakthrough for the Opposition, which witnessed cracks after Congress quit the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu. AAP had also quit the INDIA bloc way back; however, it came on board to raise concerns over the SIR exercise. In a post on X, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh noted that the letter initially discussed at an INDIA 'Janbandhan' meeting on June 8 was signed by 23 political parties and one Independent leader. The Congress leader wrote on X, "21 political parties plus one Independent attended the INDIA Janbandhan meeting on June 8, 2026, where a decision was taken to address a joint letter to the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India on the SIR process of the Election Commission of India and other election-related issues. Accordingly, a joint letter now signed by 23 political parties plus one Independent has been sent to the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India today. The Opposition parties are firmly anchored in SURE--Solidarity, Unity and Resistance." (ANI)
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