Senior Congress MP and former union minister Manish Tewari on Tuesday initiated the crucial debate on electoral reforms in Lok Sabha and demanded that Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls be stopped forthwith.

Tewari, lead speaker from the Opposition side, said the Election Commission has no legal or constitutional right to conduct SIR and the process -- currently ongoing in 12 states and UTs -- be stopped.

Tewari, who cited the Constitution to make a case against blanket SIR made three demands -- stopping SIR, changing the 2023 law for selection of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners to ensure fairness and balance and immediate end to the ongoing practice of cash transfers at the cost of national and state exchequer.

Tewari also demanded a return to paper b

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