Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Election Commission Rifts Reopen Debate Over Dissent and Voter Lists
India’s Election Commission is supposed to make decisions about elections.
Sometimes its members disagree with one another.
In 2009, N. Gopalaswami sought the removal of Navin Chawla, but the government rejected the request.
Earlier, T. N. Seshan went to court over the creation of a Commission with several members.
In 2019, Ashok Lavasa disagreed with decisions clearing senior BJP leaders of alleged election-code violations.
He wanted his disagreement included in the official orders, but the Commission refused.
In 2021, Rajiv Kumar wanted to defend the Commission in court after criticism over its handling of assembly elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current commissioners have raised concerns about voter deletions and other decisions during a voter-list revision.
The Commission says different views are normal and that its orders over the past year were unanimous.
Disagreements among Election Commission members have resurfaced during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
In 2009, CEC N. Gopalaswami sought Navin Chawla’s removal over alleged partisan conduct, but the government rejected the recommendation.
T. N. Seshan previously challenged the creation of a multi-member Commission in court, leading to a dispute with M. S. Gill and G. V. Krishnamurthy.
Ashok Lavasa’s 2019 dissent over clean chits for senior BJP leaders was not included in final orders, while Rajiv Kumar’s proposed 2021 court affidavit also faced opposition.
Current commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have objected to issues including voter deletions, prompting opposition demands for action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
- Who
- India’s Election Commissioners, including N. Gopalaswami, Navin Chawla, T. N. Seshan, Ashok Lavasa, Rajiv Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi; the controversy also involves CECs Sunil Arora, Sushil Chandra and Gyanesh Kumar.
- What
- A history of public disagreements within the Election Commission, including disputes over commissioner appointments, dissent notes, court responses and voter-list revisions.
- When
- The reported disputes span 1993-1995, 2009, 2019, May 2021 and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision.
- Where
- The disputes involved the Election Commission in New Delhi, the Madras High Court, the Supreme Court and, in one historical case, the central government.
- Why
- Commissioners differed over alleged partisan conduct, the recording of dissent, responses to judicial criticism and the handling of voter-list revisions.
Dissenting Commissioners and Opposition
Election Commission Leadership
Recording internal disagreement
Dissenting Commissioners and Opposition
Ashok Lavasa argued that his dissent over alleged Model Code violations should be included in the final published orders.
Election Commission Leadership
The Commission under Sunil Arora said its executive orders did not provide for attaching dissent notes to final decisions and rejected the request.
Response to court criticism
Dissenting Commissioners and Opposition
Rajiv Kumar sought to submit a separate affidavit defending the Election Commission after the Madras High Court criticized its handling of assembly elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Election Commission Leadership
Then CEC Sushil Chandra opposed Kumar’s proposed affidavit.
Voter-list revision
Dissenting Commissioners and Opposition
Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised concerns including voter deletions and objected to the decision-making process; opposition parties used the dispute to demand action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Election Commission Leadership
The Election Commission said differing views are a normal part of institutional deliberation and that its orders over the previous year were unanimous.
- Current issue
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly raised objections 14 times in recent months, including over voter deletions during the Special Intensive Revision.
- 2009 dispute
- CEC N. Gopalaswami sought Navin Chawla’s removal over alleged partisan conduct; the government rejected the recommendation.
- 1993-1995 dispute
- T. N. Seshan challenged the creation of a multi-member Commission in court, disputing the arrangement with M. S. Gill and G. V. Krishnamurthy.
- 2019 dissent
- Ashok Lavasa issued dissent notes over clean chits given to senior BJP leaders for alleged Model Code violations.
- Dissent-record request
- The Commission headed by Sunil Arora rejected Lavasa’s request to attach his dissent notes to final published orders.
- 2021 affidavit dispute
- Rajiv Kumar sought to file a separate affidavit defending the poll body after criticism from the Madras High Court; CEC Sushil Chandra opposed the move.
- Official response
- The Election Commission said differing views are normal and that its orders during the previous year were unanimous decisions of the full Commission.
- Opposition response
- Opposition parties demanded immediate impeachment proceedings in Parliament against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
