2 hrs ago
Gyanesh Kumar Faces Election Panel Scrutiny Over Voter Roll Decisions
Gyanesh Kumar is India’s chief election commissioner.
The Election Commission helps manage elections and voter lists.
Two other election commissioners reportedly disagreed with some decisions made during a voter-list review.
They objected at least 14 times, according to an investigation.
Their concerns included changes to a voter-registration form and control of the voter database.
The Election Commission says disagreements can happen during discussions.
It also says the final decisions were unanimous.
Opposition parties say the voter-list review could leave out eligible voters and help the ruling party.
The Election Commission denies those accusations.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar faces scrutiny over decisions made during the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists.
Election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected at least 14 times to decisions they said were issued without their knowledge.
The objections included changes to voter registration Form 6 and centralized control of the electoral roll database.
The Election Commission said differing views are normal and that its final decisions, including those on the revision, were unanimous.
Opposition parties have accused the Election Commission of excluding eligible voters and favoring the Bharatiya Janata Party, allegations the panel rejects.
- Who
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, is at the center of the dispute.
- What
- The dispute concerns reported objections to decisions made during the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists.
- Where
- The dispute concerns India’s Election Commission and its national electoral-roll system.
- When
- The objections were reportedly made at least 14 times over the 10 months before the report; Kumar became CEC on February 19, 2025.
- Why
- The objections reportedly concerned decisions issued without the other commissioners’ knowledge, including changes to Form 6 and centralized database control.
Critics and Opposition Parties
Election Commission and Supporters
Internal decision-making
Critics and Opposition Parties
Sandhu and Joshi reportedly objected that at least 14 decisions or orders were issued without their knowledge.
Election Commission and Supporters
The Election Commission said differing views are normal during deliberations and that final decisions were unanimous.
Voter-list revision
Critics and Opposition Parties
Opposition parties accused the Election Commission of excluding eligible voters during the Special Intensive Revision and favoring the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Election Commission and Supporters
The Election Commission rejected the allegations.
CEC appointment law
Critics and Opposition Parties
The opposition criticized Kumar’s appointment under the 2023 law and sought to delay the selection while the Supreme Court considered challenges to the law.
Election Commission and Supporters
Kumar was appointed under the selection process established by the 2023 law; the Supreme Court later issued split opinions on whether the challenges should go to a larger bench.
Key facts
- Chief election commissioner
- Gyanesh Kumar
- Reported objections
- At least 14 objections by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over 10 months
- Issue under review
- Special Intensive Revision of voter lists
- Disputed measures
- Changes to statutory voter registration Form 6 and centralized electoral-roll database control
- Election Commission position
- Differing views are normal and final decisions, including those on the revision, were unanimous
- Kumar’s term
- Due to end on January 26, 2029
- Appointment controversy
- Kumar was the first CEC chosen under the 2023 law that replaced the Chief Justice of India on the selection panel with a Union Cabinet minister
Sources
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