Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Congress Demands Modi, Election Chief Resign Over Roll Revision
Congress leaders met to discuss concerns about how voter lists are being changed.
They accused the Election Commission and the government of allowing unfair changes, which they called “vote theft.”
Congress wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to resign.
It also wants the current voter-list revision process suspended.
Congress says the process could remove eligible voters without enough safeguards.
The party says 13.3 crore names should be restored, although that figure is its claim.
Reports said two election commissioners had objected to some decisions several times.
The Election Commission says disagreements inside an institution are normal and that its procedures are lawful.
Opposition parties plan to discuss a joint campaign, and the Supreme Court will hear a related petition.
The Congress Working Committee accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of facilitating “vote theft” and demanded his resignation.
Congress also sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s and Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignations, along with an independent, time-bound inquiry.
The party called for suspension of the Special Intensive Revision and restoration of 13.3 crore names it said were removed from electoral rolls.
Reports said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected 14 times in 10 months to decisions involving voter registration, roll changes and electoral data.
The Election Commission rejected reports of a rift, while INDIA bloc parties and the Supreme Court are set to consider the broader dispute.
- Who
- The Congress Working Committee, led by Mallikarjun Kharge, is challenging Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission; Congress also named Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in its demands.
- What
- Congress demanded resignations, suspension of the Special Intensive Revision, restoration of 13.3 crore voter names it says were removed, and independent inquiries into serious electoral discrepancies.
- When
- The Congress Working Committee met on Tuesday; INDIA bloc parties are scheduled to meet on Wednesday, and the Supreme Court is expected to hear a related petition next week.
- Where
- The CWC meeting took place in New Delhi; the dispute concerns electoral-roll revisions and the Election Commission’s national operations.
- Why
- Congress says the Special Intensive Revision was conducted hastily and without transparent safeguards, raising concerns about voter exclusion and the constitutional validity of the process.
Congress and Opposition
Election Commission and Government
Special Intensive Revision
Congress and Opposition
Congress says the SIR was executed hastily, lacks transparent safeguards and could exclude eligible voters; it wants the process suspended.
Election Commission and Government
The Election Commission maintains that its decisions and procedures have legal sanction and follow established statutory requirements.
Internal Election Commission objections
Congress and Opposition
Congress says reported objections from Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reveal serious problems in the poll panel’s functioning and decision-making.
Election Commission and Government
The Election Commission says differences in views and observations are normal institutional deliberations and says the cited letters concerned an officer on deputation, not policy or IT matters.
Political accountability
Congress and Opposition
Congress is seeking the resignations of Gyanesh Kumar, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, as well as independent, time-bound inquiries into alleged electoral irregularities.
Election Commission and Government
The Election Commission has defended the legality of its procedures; the supplied reports do not provide a separate response from Narendra Modi or Amit Shah to the resignation demands.
- Main demand
- Congress called for the resignations of Gyanesh Kumar, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
- Election-roll process
- Congress demanded suspension of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Names cited by Congress
- The party called for restoration of 13.3 crore names it said had been removed during the revision process.
- Reported objections
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected 14 times in 10 months to decisions and orders related to the electoral process.
- Issues in dispute
- The reported objections involved Form 6, voter additions and deletions, access to electoral rolls, voter data and Election Commission technical systems.
- Election Commission response
- The Commission said differences of opinion are normal and that its decisions have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.
- Next steps
- INDIA bloc parties plan to discuss a joint strategy, while the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition challenging the Commission’s functioning and the SIR exercise.
