Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Congress Says Modi Knew of ECINet Access Restrictions
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of knowing about a dispute over access to an election website.
The website, called ECINet, is used for voter-roll work.
Ramesh said two election commissioners raised concerns about the Election Commission’s IT division.
He said restrictions could limit local election officers’ authority to add or remove names from voter lists.
He also claimed a complaint reached a government department overseen by the prime minister.
Ramesh alleged that an officer named in the complaints later got responsibility for overseeing the IT division.
These are allegations made by Ramesh, not established findings in the reports.
The Election Commission said differing views are normal and its orders follow legal procedures.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi knew the Election Commission’s IT division was restricting electoral registration officers’ access to ECINet.
Ramesh said two election commissioners objected that the restrictions could override officers’ statutory authority over additions and deletions to voter rolls.
He claimed their complaint reached the Department of Personnel and Training, which is under the prime minister’s charge, and said the decision was likely made at Modi’s direction.
Ramesh alleged an officer who drew complaints to the Cabinet secretary in July was given oversight of the IT division from August.
The Election Commission said differing views are normal in institutional deliberations and its orders carry legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.
- Who
- Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh made the allegations about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Election Commission; commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi were cited as raising concerns.
- What
- Ramesh alleged Modi knew of restrictions on electoral registration officers’ access to ECINet and questioned an officer’s continued role overseeing the Election Commission’s IT division.
- When
- The reports say Ramesh made the claims on October 3; they refer to complaints in July and an oversight role assigned from August.
- Where
- India; the dispute concerns the Election Commission and the Department of Personnel and Training.
- Why
- Ramesh said the restrictions could override electoral registration officers’ statutory authority over voter-roll additions and deletions.
Congress allegations
Election Commission response
Access to ECINet and voter-roll authority
Congress allegations
Ramesh said the IT division restricted electoral registration officers’ access and could override their statutory authority over voter-roll additions and deletions.
Election Commission response
The Election Commission said its orders carry legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.
Officer’s oversight role
Congress allegations
Ramesh alleged that an officer who was the subject of complaints was later given oversight of the IT division, suggesting this retained centralised control.
Election Commission response
The Election Commission said differing views and observations are normal in institutional deliberations; the reports do not give a specific response to the officer’s role.
- Congress representative
- Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary
- Prime minister named
- Narendra Modi
- Portal at issue
- ECINet, described in the reports as a voter-roll or electoral-roll portal
- Commissioners cited
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
- Department mentioned
- Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)
- Officer’s reported role
- Ramesh alleged the officer was given oversight of the Election Commission’s IT division from August.
- Election Commission response
- It said differing views are normal and its orders carry legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.
Sources
Modi was aware of EC restricting EROs’ access to ECINet: Congress
Modi was aware of EC restricting EROs' access to ECINet: Cong
Congress Claims PM Narendra Modi Knew Of ECINet Access Row, Questions Election Commission Official's Continued IT Role
