No hurdle in carrying out SIR in Bengal, states constitutionally bound to support it: CEC
New Delhi (PTI): The Election Commission on Monday asserted there will be no hurdles in the implementation of special intensive revision of the voters' list in West Bengal as states are constitutionally obliged to provide the poll authority with personnel to carry out the electoral roll clean-up exercise.
The remarks by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar came as the poll panel announced conducting phase two of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories between November and February.
The states and Union Territories are: the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Responding to a question on the possibility of "bloodbath" in West Bengal if the SIR exercise is held there, Kumar said, "There is no hurdle."
"The EC is doing its duty and state governments are constitutionally-bound to discharge their duties.....all constitutional bodies carry out their responsibility as enshrined in the constitution," Kumar said, citing the EC's powers under Article 324 of the Constitution.
"Maintaining law and order is a state's constitutional responsibility... states are also bound to provide necessary personnel to EC for preparing electoral rolls and conduct of polls," he added.
Responding to another question on the demands of postponing SIR in Kerala due to the proposed local body elections, the CEC said no notification for holding local body polls has been issued so far, and that is why the Election Commission is going ahead with holding SIR in the southern state.
Assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala are due next year, along with Assam, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.
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Firms being arm-twisted to divert investment from Karnataka: Priyank Kharge
New Delhi (PTI): Companies are being arm-twisted to divert their investments from Karnataka despite the state having the best talent ecosystem, state's IT, biotech and rural development minister Priyank Kharge said on Friday.
The minister said it has taken 40 years to develop the entire ecosystem in the state that suits investors.
"Why is semiconductor going to Gujarat, Assam? That's my question? That's what I have been asking. Why is it going to Gujarat? Why is it going to Assam? When PLI comes, they have to choose their state. The name is Karnataka. How does it become Gujarat by the time the application reaches Delhi? They are coming to my state. Why are they being arm-twisted to Gujarat?" Kharge said.
He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a roadshow in the national capital for the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026 to be held in November.
"They are coming to our state only. They want to invest in our state. It works out for them. It is profitable for them. Our human resource is one of the most agile and best in the world. But yet, they are going to be pushed to Gujarat," Kharge said.
During the event, Kharge said Karnataka is planning to rejig policy on data centres to promote sustainable data centres.
"There is a serious need for states and the central government to bring up policies for sustainable data centres. That's exactly what the government of Karnataka intends to do," Kharge said.
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