Archive · 23 Sep 2026
CPI(M) Seeks Gyanesh Kumar’s Removal, Immediate SIR Halt
The CPI(M) is a political party that criticized how India’s Election Commission is working.
It wants the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of voter lists to stop immediately.
It also wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar removed from office.
The demands followed a newspaper report about disagreements inside the Election Commission.
The report said Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected to decisions at least 14 times over 10 months.
The disagreements reportedly involved adding, removing and restoring voters.
The CPI(M) said the disagreements showed that decision-making had become too centralised.
Election Commission sources said all decisions, including SIR, were approved unanimously.
The CPI(M) demanded an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The demands followed a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected at least 14 times over 10 months.
The reported objections involved adding, deleting and restoring voters, as well as changes to the voter-registration process.
The CPI(M) alleged that Gyanesh Kumar imposed decisions despite objections and centralised the Election Commission’s functioning.
Election Commission sources said all decisions, including SIR, were unanimous and approved by both Election Commissioners and the CEC.
- Who
- The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
- What
- The CPI(M) demanded that the SIR voter-list exercise be stopped and that Gyanesh Kumar be removed.
- When
- Wednesday, September 23; the reported objections occurred over the preceding 10 months.
- Where
- The demands were made in New Delhi and by the CPI(M)’s West Bengal unit in Kolkata; the reported work involved voter databases in various states.
- Why
- The CPI(M) said the reported objections raised concerns about the Election Commission’s integrity, transparency and democratic functioning.
CPI(M) and Left Parties
Election Commission Sources
Whether decisions were properly agreed
CPI(M) and Left Parties
The CPI(M) said all three commissioners are equal and that Gyanesh Kumar imposed decisions despite objections from the other two commissioners.
Election Commission Sources
Election Commission sources said every decision, including SIR, was unanimous and approved by both Election Commissioners and the CEC.
Transparency and independence
CPI(M) and Left Parties
The CPI(M) said the disclosures raised serious questions about the ECI’s integrity and alleged that its functioning had become centralised and insufficiently transparent.
Election Commission Sources
Election Commission sources maintained that the decisions had received the required approval; the reports did not provide a detailed response to the CPI(M)’s broader allegations.
Future of SIR
CPI(M) and Left Parties
The CPI(M) and other Left parties demanded that SIR stop immediately, citing concerns about protecting the inclusion of genuine voters.
Election Commission Sources
The Election Commission sources’ assertion that SIR decisions were unanimous supports the continuation of the exercise.
- Main demand
- The CPI(M) called for an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision process.
- Requested removal
- The party said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should be removed from office.
- Reported objections
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected at least 14 times over 10 months.
- Issues involved
- The objections reportedly concerned voter additions, deletions, restorations and changes to voter registration.
- CPI(M) allegation
- The party alleged that Gyanesh Kumar imposed his views and centralised decision-making.
- Election Commission response
- Election Commission sources said all decisions, including SIR, were unanimous and approved by all three commissioners.
- Appointment reform
- The CPI(M) called for new legislation based on Supreme Court guidelines for a selection committee involving the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Chief Justice of India.