Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Election Commission Dispute Reignites Major Vote Chori Controversy
Two Election Commissioners reportedly questioned parts of a process for updating voter lists.
They raised concerns about changes to a voter-registration form called Form 6 and other parts of the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR.
A report said they recorded objections at least 14 times over 10 months.
Opposition leaders say these actions could unfairly affect voters and have called the issue “vote chori.”
Rahul Gandhi described it as an attack on the Constitution.
Mamata Banerjee demanded the Chief Election Commissioner’s arrest and new elections using older voter lists, while Arvind Kejriwal also called for action.
The Election Commission says disagreements during drafting are normal and that its final decisions follow the law.
The BJP says internal discussion can help institutions work better.
The dispute now centers on whether the Form 6 changes were legally made and whether the voter-list revision was fair.
Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected at least 14 times over 10 months to issues involving Form 6, voter-list changes and electoral-roll data access.
The reported objections included questions about the legality of changes to statutory voter-registration Form 6 and decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, accused the Election Commission and BJP of enabling “vote chori” and demanded action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Election Commission said internal notes, operational questions and differing views are normal institutional checks, while formal decisions follow statutory procedures and have legal sanction.
The BJP defended the Commission, saying the reported disagreements reflected healthy internal deliberation and that the SIR decision was unanimous among the three Commissioners.
- Who
- Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Election Commission, opposition leaders, the BJP and the RSS.
- What
- A dispute over reported objections to changes in Form 6, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and access to electoral-roll data.
- When
- The objections were reportedly recorded at least 14 times over 10 months; Rahul Gandhi’s cited post was dated September 23, 2026.
- Where
- India, in connection with the country’s electoral rolls and elections.
- Why
- Opposition parties allege that the changes and SIR could affect voters opposed to the BJP, while the Election Commission says the revision is part of its constitutional responsibility and follows established procedures.
Opposition allegations
Election Commission and BJP response
Legality of Form 6 changes
Opposition allegations
The reported objections raise questions about whether changes to statutory Form 6 were legally authorized and whether they should be removed.
Election Commission and BJP response
The Election Commission says its official orders, decisions and directions have legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.
Purpose and impact of SIR
Opposition allegations
Opposition parties allege that the Special Intensive Revision could disproportionately affect voters opposed to the BJP and describe the broader issue as “vote chori.”
Election Commission and BJP response
The Election Commission says SIR is part of its constitutional responsibility to maintain accurate electoral rolls, while the BJP says it followed a unanimous decision by the three Commissioners.
Meaning of internal disagreements
Opposition allegations
Opposition leaders say the reported objections require transparency, accountability and action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Election Commission and BJP response
The Commission and BJP describe questions and suggestions during drafting as normal institutional checks and deliberation rather than evidence of a breakdown.
- Form at issue
- Statutory voter-registration Form 6
- Reported objectors
- Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
- Reported objections
- At least 14 objections over 10 months
- Wider process
- Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Opposition allegations
- The BJP, RSS and Election Commission enabled “vote chori” and compromised electoral processes
- Election Commission position
- Internal questions and differing views are normal, while formal orders and directions follow statutory procedures and carry legal sanction
- BJP position
- The differences reflected institutional deliberation, and the SIR decision was unanimous among the three Commissioners
