Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Akhilesh Yadav Questions Election Commission Credibility Over SIR
Akhilesh Yadav questioned whether India’s Election Commission is working fairly.
He said voters who support his Samajwadi Party were removed from voter lists.
He referred to a report saying two election commissioners objected 14 times over 10 months.
The objections concerned a process called the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR.
Election Commission sources said all important decisions were made unanimously.
Yadav also criticized the Uttar Pradesh government’s use of bulldozers in Ayodhya.
He said some residents lost homes and property.
Opposition lawmakers have tried to remove the chief election commissioner, but their motions were rejected.
The disagreement is about whether election procedures were properly followed.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that his party’s voters were systematically removed from electoral rolls.
Yadav said officials raised concerns 14 times over 10 months about the Special Intensive Revision process and electoral procedures.
Election Commission sources said decisions, including those involving SIR, were approved unanimously by all three commissioners.
Yadav accused the Uttar Pradesh government of arbitrary rule and alleged that bulldozer demolitions displaced Ayodhya residents.
Opposition parties have sought the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, but related motions were rejected by parliamentary authorities.
- Who
- Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar are central to the dispute.
- What
- Yadav alleged large-scale electoral malpractice and systematic deletion of Samajwadi Party supporters from voter lists, while Election Commission sources defended the decision-making process.
- When
- The remarks were made on Wednesday; the cited report said objections were raised 14 times over 10 months, and a separate removal notice was discussed in April 2026.
- Where
- Yadav spoke at a press conference in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh; the allegations concern the Election Commission’s electoral-roll procedures and by-elections.
- Why
- Yadav was responding to an Indian Express report about objections to the Special Intensive Revision process and electoral-roll decisions.
Akhilesh Yadav and Opposition Allegations
Election Commission’s Defense
Electoral-roll procedures
Akhilesh Yadav and Opposition Allegations
Akhilesh Yadav alleged that Samajwadi Party voters were systematically removed from electoral rolls and that complaints received no corrective action.
Election Commission’s Defense
Election Commission sources said decisions, including those related to the Special Intensive Revision, were taken unanimously with the approval of all three commissioners.
Concerns within the commission
Akhilesh Yadav and Opposition Allegations
Yadav cited an Indian Express report stating that Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected 14 times over 10 months to SIR-related decisions and orders.
Election Commission’s Defense
The Election Commission sources sought to play down the report, maintaining that the commission’s decisions were unanimous.
Ayodhya demolitions
Akhilesh Yadav and Opposition Allegations
Yadav said the Samajwadi Party supports development of the Ram Temple but alleged that BJP-backed demolition drives displaced poor residents and damaged their property rights.
Election Commission’s Defense
The article reports Yadav’s allegations but does not provide a response from the Bharatiya Janata Party on the Ayodhya demolitions.
- Speaker
- Akhilesh Yadav, chief of the Samajwadi Party
- Main allegation
- Samajwadi Party voters were systematically deleted from electoral rolls
- Reported objections
- Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected 14 times over 10 months
- Election Commission response
- Sources said decisions related to SIR were approved unanimously by both Election Commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner
- Related criticism
- Yadav accused the Uttar Pradesh government of arbitrary governance and bulldozer demolitions in Ayodhya
- Removal motions
- Opposition lawmakers sought the removal of Gyanesh Kumar; motions in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were rejected