CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Chhattisgarh Visit Postponed Amid SIR Row

The scheduled visit of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other Election Commission of India (ECI) officials to Chhattisgarh on October 7 and 8 has been postponed, according to sources. The delegation was set to travel from Delhi to review poll preparations in the state.

The postponement comes amid mounting criticism over the ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which has raised concerns about the disenfranchisement of voters. The SIR process, aimed at cleaning up electoral rolls, has faced opposition from various political parties and civil society groups. The ECI has not yet issued an official statement on the reason for the postponement.

The delay in the CEC's visit may fuel further speculation about the ECI's handling of the SIR and its impact on upcoming elections. It remains to be seen whether the visit will be rescheduled and how the ECI addresses the ongoing criticism. The opposition is likely to seize on this development to question the ECI's transparency and impartiality.