Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Amitav Ghosh Backs Calls for Election Chief’s Resignation
A group called the Cockroach Janta Party says many voters were removed from India’s electoral lists.
It wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Author Amitav Ghosh supported the group’s demand.
The group says more than 13 crore names were excluded during a voter-list checking exercise.
It wants an independent investigation and the return of earlier voter lists while checks continue.
It also wants the records sent to the Supreme Court or another independent inquiry.
The Election Commission says decisions during this period were unanimous.
Other critics have also sought legal action against Kumar.
The dispute is about whether the voter-list changes were properly made.
Author Amitav Ghosh supported the Cockroach Janta Party’s demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
The CJP alleges that more than 13 crore names were excluded from draft electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision.
The youth-led pressure group has demanded an independent probe, restoration of January 2025 rolls, and publication of SIR records.
The Election Commission disputed reports about internal objections, saying its decisions during the period were unanimous.
Mahua Moitra and an advocate separately sought legal action against Kumar over alleged electoral-roll manipulation.
- Who
- Amitav Ghosh, the Cockroach Janta Party, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Election Commission of India, and other critics including Mahua Moitra.
- What
- A dispute over alleged large-scale electoral-roll exclusions during the Special Intensive Revision and demands for Kumar’s resignation and an independent investigation.
- When
- The CJP announced its campaign on Thursday, while Ghosh issued his supporting statement on Friday; the SIR exercise began in June last year.
- Where
- Across India, with the CJP threatening a nationwide protest and an indefinite sit-in at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
- Why
- The CJP alleges that more than 13 crore voters were excluded and that the Election Commission acted improperly; the commission disputes the characterization of its decision-making.
Critics of the Election Commission
Election Commission’s Position
Electoral-roll exclusions
Critics of the Election Commission
The Cockroach Janta Party and its supporters say the Special Intensive Revision systematically removed huge numbers of voters and demand that disputed exclusions stop.
Election Commission’s Position
The Election Commission disputes the criticism of its process; the article does not state that it accepted the allegation of systematic voter removal.
Internal decision-making
Critics of the Election Commission
Critics cite reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised at least 14 objections over 11 months and want the underlying records made public.
Election Commission’s Position
The Election Commission says the notes were part of normal decision-making and maintains that decisions made during the period were unanimous.
Accountability and legal action
Critics of the Election Commission
The CJP, Mahua Moitra, and an advocate have called for Kumar’s resignation, investigation, or prosecution over alleged electoral-roll manipulation and possible contempt of court.
Election Commission’s Position
The article reports the allegations and demands but does not report any finding that Kumar committed the alleged offenses.
- Campaign
- The Cockroach Janta Party launched an “Election Commission Thik Karo” campaign.
- Alleged exclusions
- The CJP says more than 13 crore names were excluded from draft rolls covering 30 states and Union Territories.
- Election official targeted
- The group demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar within 48 hours.
- Requested inquiry
- The CJP called for an independent probe into decisions connected with the Special Intensive Revision.
- Requested safeguards
- The group sought a halt to further exclusions and restoration of the January 2025 electoral rolls pending verification.
- Election Commission response
- The Election Commission said reported notes by two commissioners were part of the decision-making process and that decisions were unanimous.
- Other legal action
- Mahua Moitra filed a police complaint, while an advocate sought statutory sanction to prosecute Kumar for alleged contempt of court.