Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Shivakumar Demands CEC Resignation and Fresh Karnataka Voter Revision
D K Shivakumar wants Gyanesh Kumar, the head of India’s election body, to resign.
He also wants the current review of voter lists in Karnataka to stop.
Shivakumar says a new review should be carried out instead.
He believes every citizen should be able to vote.
He says some people’s voting rights may be used for political purposes.
He is especially worried about illiterate and disadvantaged people.
He also questioned whether the Election Commission is making decisions fairly when its members disagree.
Shivakumar had asked for more time to make corrections to the draft voter list.
He wants the issue discussed more widely, including in Parliament.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
He called for scrapping the ongoing Special Intensive Revision process and conducting a fresh electoral-data revision.
Shivakumar alleged that citizens’ voting rights were being misused for political purposes in Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar and other states.
He criticized unilateral decision-making within the Election Commission and said its autonomy was being undermined.
He warned that the current process could affect illiterate and disadvantaged people and urged a broader review, including in Parliament.
- Who
- Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar made the demands and named Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- What
- He called for the CEC’s resignation, cancellation of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision, and a fresh revision of electoral data.
- When
- The demands were made on Thursday; the reports also refer to a draft voter list published on August 24 and an October 4 deadline for corrections.
- Where
- The demands concern the SIR process in Karnataka, while Shivakumar also referred to West Bengal, Bihar and several other states.
- Why
- He said the process could threaten citizens’ voting rights, particularly those of illiterate and disadvantaged people, and criticized alleged unilateral decision-making within the Election Commission.
- Main demand
- Immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Electoral process
- Scrap the ongoing Special Intensive Revision, or SIR
- Alternative proposal
- Conduct a fresh revision and re-examine electoral data
- Forms discussed
- Forms 6, 7 and 8 used in the electoral-roll revision process
- Draft-list timeline
- The draft voters list was published on August 24, with corrections due by October 4
- Groups identified as vulnerable
- Illiterate and disadvantaged sections of society
- Broader forum requested
- A comprehensive review and debate, including in Parliament
