1 hr ago
BJP mounts counter-offensive as Opposition attacks election chief
Opposition parties say the Election Commission and its chief, Gyanesh Kumar, mishandled parts of a voter-list review called SIR.
They are asking Kumar to resign and are organizing protests.
The Election Commission says its members can disagree during discussions and that its decisions were made legally.
The BJP says the accusations are baseless and are meant to weaken trust in important institutions.
It says the voter-list exercise removed duplicate and deceased entries.
Several BJP chief ministers have publicly defended the commission.
Some BJP leaders worry the issue could lead to large protests.
Other BJP leaders believe voters will not punish the party because of these accusations.
Congress plans protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at every Uttar Pradesh district headquarters.
Opposition parties are demanding Kumar’s resignation, arrest and criminal prosecution over reported disagreements concerning the SIR exercise.
The Election Commission says differing views are normal and that its decisions followed statutory procedures and have legal sanction.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has deployed several chief ministers to defend the poll panel and accuse the Opposition of undermining constitutional institutions.
The BJP is concerned the allegations could trigger street protests, although some party leaders believe they will not damage its electoral prospects.
- Who
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Election Commission of India, Opposition parties led by Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- What
- A political dispute over allegations that Kumar disregarded objections from fellow election commissioners during decisions related to the SIR exercise.
- Where
- The dispute concerns India, with protests announced in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka and a proposed nationwide campaign beginning in Mumbai.
- When
- The controversy intensified after a report cited 14 alleged instances over 10 months; Congress announced Uttar Pradesh protests for Monday, while a nationwide protest was threatened from October 2.
- Why
- Opposition parties say the Election Commission’s conduct threatens electoral integrity, while the BJP says the allegations are baseless and intended to discredit constitutional institutions.
Opposition allegations
BJP and Election Commission response
Conduct of the Chief Election Commissioner
Opposition allegations
Opposition parties say Gyanesh Kumar ignored objections from fellow election commissioners and are demanding his resignation, arrest and criminal prosecution.
BJP and Election Commission response
The Election Commission says differing opinions are a normal part of institutional deliberations, while BJP leaders say the allegations are fabricated and politically motivated.
Integrity of the SIR exercise
Opposition allegations
Congress and its allies argue that the voter-list review may have affected millions of voters and have used the issue to allege vote-related irregularities.
BJP and Election Commission response
The BJP says SIR removed duplicate and deceased entries from electoral rolls and argues that those who benefited from inaccurate rolls are opposing the cleanup.
Political impact
Opposition allegations
The Opposition is seeking protests and a broader campaign to defend voting rights and challenge the Election Commission’s credibility.
BJP and Election Commission response
The BJP says the Opposition is trying to weaken constitutional institutions after electoral defeats, although some party members privately worry the issue could generate wider protests.
Key facts
- Chief Election Commissioner
- Gyanesh Kumar took charge as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner on February 19, 2025.
- Earlier appointment
- Kumar was appointed an election commissioner on March 15, 2024, after retirement.
- Reported disagreements
- A report said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected to decisions or orders related to SIR on 14 occasions over 10 months.
- BJP voter-roll claim
- The BJP said more than one crore duplicate entries and 2.8 crore names of deceased voters were removed under SIR across states and Union territories.
- Uttar Pradesh protests
- Congress said demonstrations against Kumar would take place at every district headquarters in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.
- Nationwide protest threat
- The Cockroach Janata Party said it would begin a nationwide protest from Mumbai on October 2 if Kumar did not resign.
- Bihar election result cited
- The BJP said its BJP-JDU alliance won 174 of 243 seats in Bihar, while the Opposition won 35, after campaigning focused on SIR allegations.
Quotes
Devendra Fadnavis
Maharashtra chief minister criticizing Rahul Gandhi’s allegations against the Election Commission.
“Those who are unable to mentally accept the BJP's victory in Bengal are trying to spread confusion by clinging to a fabricated report. This picture itself proves that every decision relating to the SIR was taken jointly and unanimously. There is no question of anyone imposing a decision unilaterally.”
livemint.com
“If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign by tomorrow, CJP will begin its nationwide protest from Mumbai on 2 October, and take it to cities across India.”
livemint.com
Sources
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