New Delhi | The Congress on Friday alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a "mischievous instrument" wielded by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to perpetuate the rule of the "Diabolical Duo".

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared an opinion piece from The Hindu which claimed that the SIR was termed an exercise to "purify" the electoral rolls, but in practice, it is riddled with methodological flaws and ad hoc rule changes, resulting in the deletion of a large number of genuine voters.

Sharing the article on X, Ramesh said, "Here is a thorough analysis of how SIR is destroying the letter and spirit of Article 326 of the Constitution and deliberately disenfranchising crores of Indians." "SIR has been a mischievous instrument wielded by the CEC to perpetuate the rule of the Diabolical Duo," Ramesh said in an apparent swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

The opposition's aggressive push comes days after a report by The Indian Express said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected on record at least 14 times over the last 10 months, mostly to decisions and orders mostly related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Under fire over objections raised by two of its commissioners, the Election Commission had asserted that differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberations in any institution and that all its orders carry full legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.

The INDIA bloc finalised a joint action plan on the SIR row, including holding rallies and "save democracy" marches.

Intensifying their protest, the INDIA bloc leaders on Thursday staged a sit-in at Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi's memorial, to highlight what they alleged was "hijacking" of the country by Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Shah and the CEC through a criminal conspiracy of "vote chori." It was the third consecutive day of protests against the CEC and alleged vote theft by the opposition leaders, who pledged to continue their agitation until the CEC resigns.