Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Opposition Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Removal Over SIR Dissent
A newspaper report said two Election Commissioners disagreed with some decisions about voter lists.
The commissioners were Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
They reportedly recorded objections at least 14 times in 10 months.
The disagreements involved adding, deleting and restoring voters’ names, changing a voter-registration form and managing election data.
Opposition politicians said this showed that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had too much control.
They asked Parliament and the courts to examine the matter and demanded action against Kumar.
Some leaders also wanted the voter-list revision cancelled.
Election Commission officials said the nationwide revision had been approved unanimously, even though individual issues were debated.
The reported dispute has therefore produced conflicting accounts about how the commission made its decisions.
The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected to SIR-related decisions at least 14 times over 10 months, including four objections on one day.
The reported disputes involved voter additions, deletions and restorations, appeals, changes to statutory Form 6, and electoral-roll technology and security.
Opposition leaders accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of sidelining the other commissioners and running the Election Commission as a “one-man autocracy.”
They demanded Kumar’s removal, suspension or impeachment, along with investigations, possible criminal action and annulment of the Special Intensive Revision.
Election Commission officials said decisions concerning the nationwide SIR were unanimous, while acknowledging that individual issues had been raised during internal deliberations.
- Who
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar; Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi; opposition leaders and former chief election commissioners including O P Rawat and S Y Quraishi.
- What
- Opposition parties demanded action against Kumar after a report said Sandhu and Joshi repeatedly objected to decisions connected with the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- When
- The objections were reportedly made over 10 months; the political reactions were reported on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the Election Commission of India and its nationwide electoral-roll revision process in India.
- Why
- Opposition leaders said the reported objections raised concerns about the Election Commission’s independence, the legality of SIR-related decisions and the integrity of voter rolls.
Opposition allegations and demands
Election Commission officials and BJP response
How the commission functioned
Opposition allegations and demands
Opposition leaders alleged that Kumar sidelined Sandhu and Joshi, issued or oversaw decisions without proper authorisation and operated the Election Commission as a “one-man autocracy.”
Election Commission officials and BJP response
Election Commission officials said the nationwide SIR decisions were unanimous and approved by all three commissioners, while BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said internal differences reflected democratic discussion.
Legality of SIR-related decisions
Opposition allegations and demands
Opposition leaders and former CEC O P Rawat raised concerns about allegedly unauthorised actions, changes to Form 6, voter deletions and damage to electoral-roll integrity.
Election Commission officials and BJP response
The reports provide no detailed official defence of each disputed decision, but officials said individual concerns were raised during deliberations rather than indicating disagreement over the nationwide SIR itself.
Political and judicial response
Opposition allegations and demands
Opposition parties called for Kumar’s removal or impeachment, and some demanded an FIR, arrest, a court-monitored investigation and cancellation of the SIR.
Election Commission officials and BJP response
The articles do not report a government or Election Commission endorsement of those demands; officials instead maintained that the nationwide process was unanimous.
- Reported objections
- At least 14 formal objections over 10 months, including four on a single day.
- Commissioners named
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
- Process involved
- The nationwide Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls.
- Issues reported
- Voter additions, deletions, restorations, appeals, Form 6 changes, and electoral-roll technology, custody and security.
- Opposition demands
- Removal, suspension or impeachment proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Other demands
- Some opposition leaders called for an FIR, a court-monitored investigation, restoration of earlier voter rolls and annulment of the SIR.
- Officials’ account
- Election Commission officials said decisions on the pan-India SIR were unanimous, while individual issues had been flagged during deliberations.
- Reported deletion claim
- Arvind Kejriwal alleged that 13 crore names were deleted through the SIR; the articles present this as his claim.
Sources
'CEC Gyanesh Kumar will go to jail': Oppn on report of difference in EC over SIR
‘CEC ruling like a dictator’: Opposition on report that poll commissioners objected to SIR decisions
Election Commission Expose Sparks Opp Demand for Gyanesh's Removal
Opposition targets CEC over ECs dissent
