Archive · 24 Sep 2026
BJP Defends ECI Deliberations as Congress Alleges Vote Theft
India’s political parties are arguing about how the Election Commission made decisions about voter lists.
Reports said two Election Commissioners objected at least 14 times over 10 months.
Their objections reportedly involved adding or removing voters and a process called the Special Intensive Revision.
Congress says these reports raise questions about whether the Chief Election Commissioner was making decisions without enough agreement.
It also accused the Election Commission, the BJP and the RSS of helping with “vote theft.”
The BJP disagrees and says discussion among officials is a normal and healthy part of democracy.
The Election Commission says its internal discussions were normal and that the final decisions were unanimous.
The BJP also pointed to West Bengal election results from seats with many voter deletions.
The main disagreement is whether the reported objections show a serious problem or ordinary decision-making.
The BJP defended Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, calling differences among Election Commissioners a sign of healthy democracy.
Reports said Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised at least 14 objections over 10 months concerning voter lists and the SIR process.
The Election Commission of India said written observations and internal checks are normal, while maintaining that final decisions were unanimous.
Congress accused Kumar, the Election Commission, the BJP and the RSS of enabling “vote theft” and questioned the legality of electoral-roll decisions.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra cited West Bengal results from 20 seats with the highest voter deletions to challenge Congress’s allegations.
- Who
- The BJP, Congress, the Election Commission of India, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
- What
- A political dispute over reported internal objections within the Election Commission and allegations of “vote theft.”
- When
- The objections reportedly occurred over 10 months; the latest statements were reported on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
- Where
- The dispute concerns India’s Election Commission, with West Bengal election figures cited by the BJP.
- Why
- Congress says the reported objections raise questions about the Election Commission’s functioning, while the BJP and the Commission say internal debate can precede unanimous decisions.
Congress and Opposition
BJP and Election Commission
Meaning of reported objections
Congress and Opposition
Congress says repeated objections by two Election Commissioners raise questions about whether Gyanesh Kumar was effectively making final decisions alone and whether the process was lawful.
BJP and Election Commission
The BJP and the Election Commission say differing views, written observations and internal checks are normal parts of institutional deliberation, with final decisions reached unanimously.
Alleged vote theft
Congress and Opposition
Congress and Rahul Gandhi accuse the BJP, the RSS and the Election Commission of facilitating “vote theft” and manipulating the electoral process in favour of the ruling party.
BJP and Election Commission
The BJP and the Election Commission reject the allegation. Sambit Patra cited West Bengal results from seats with high voter deletions to question how alleged manipulation could have benefited only the BJP.
- Reported objections
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected at least 14 times over 10 months.
- Issues involved
- The objections reportedly concerned voter additions, voter deletions and aspects of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- BJP position
- The BJP called differences among Election Commissioners a sign of healthy democracy and normal institutional deliberation.
- Election Commission position
- The Election Commission said written observations, technical suggestions and internal checks are normal, and that decisions over the past year were unanimous.
- Congress allegation
- Congress accused the Chief Election Commissioner and the poll body of facilitating “vote theft” in favour of the BJP.
- West Bengal figures
- Among 20 Assembly seats cited as having the highest voter deletions, the Trinamool won 13, the BJP six and Congress one.
