Chidambaram Criticises Election Commission Over SIR Process

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has strongly criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its handling of the Special Investigation Report (SIR) process in Bihar. Speaking to the media on Monday, Chidambaram stated that the ECI was “not a court” and accused it of undermining democratic values by refusing to hear complaints from political parties.

The remarks came after a large-scale protest by MPs from the INDIA bloc, who marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission’s office to express opposition to the SIR process. While several senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Sharad Pawar, took part in the demonstration, the ECI maintained that its decisions on the matter were in accordance with existing rules.

Chidambaram described the Commission’s stance as “the death of democracy,” alleging that the refusal to grant a hearing to aggrieved parties represented a serious failure in upholding fair electoral practices. He further emphasised that the ECI should act as a neutral constitutional body safeguarding the electoral process rather than dismissing political concerns without due consideration.

The Congress leader’s comments have added to the political tension surrounding the SIR issue, which the Opposition claims is being used to target certain parties. While the ECI has not issued a direct response to Chidambaram’s remarks, officials reiterated that all actions taken were within the framework of the law.

The dispute highlights growing friction between the Opposition and the ECI ahead of upcoming electoral events in Bihar.