Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Opposition March Demands Gyanesh Kumar Resign Over SIR
Opposition politicians marched in New Delhi to ask India’s chief election official, Gyanesh Kumar, to resign.
They say a voter-list review may have unfairly removed many people’s names.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were briefly detained when police stopped the march.
The opposition also points to reports that two other election commissioners objected to some decisions.
The Election Commission says questions raised during discussions are a normal part of its work.
The Supreme Court has said it will examine who changed a voter registration form.
The dispute is about whether the voter-list changes were handled fairly and properly.
Opposition INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament toward the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Police briefly detained Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and stopped protesters from reaching the commission’s office.
Protesters and opposition leaders accuse Kumar and the Election Commission of undermining electoral fairness through the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said 13.8 crore voters had been removed; the article says that is 14.6% of the 94.7 crore voters listed before the exercise began in 2025.
The Election Commission called internal objections part of normal deliberation, while an Indian Express investigation reported repeated objections from two fellow commissioners to certain decisions.
- Who
- INDIA bloc opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge, protested against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- What
- They marched and demanded Kumar’s resignation, citing alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- When
- The main march took place on Tuesday, October 6; related demonstrations and calls for resignation were reported on October 3 and October 5.
- Where
- The march began at the Parliament complex and headed toward the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi.
- Why
- Protesters allege the voter-roll revision and other Election Commission decisions have damaged electoral fairness and public confidence.
Critics of the Election Commission
Election Commission’s position
Special Intensive Revision
Critics of the Election Commission
Opposition leaders say the voter-roll exercise has removed eligible voters and undermined democracy; Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge claimed 13.8 crore names were removed.
Election Commission’s position
The Election Commission says the exercise is intended to ensure eligible citizens are included and ineligible names removed.
Internal objections and decision-making
Critics of the Election Commission
An Indian Express investigation reported that commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times over 10 months to certain decisions, with Sandhu describing an action as unauthorised and illegal.
Election Commission’s position
The Election Commission said operational questions and differing views during draft stages are normal parts of institutional deliberation before final decisions.
Form 6 changes
Critics of the Election Commission
The Supreme Court’s chief justice said the court had not approved the Form 6 modifications and indicated it would examine who made them.
Election Commission’s position
The Election Commission had suggested that a new declaration attached to Form 6 was consistent with, and approved by, the Supreme Court’s May 2026 judgment on Bihar SIR.
- Protest organizers
- Opposition INDIA bloc MPs
- Official targeted
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Main demand
- Kumar’s resignation
- Disputed exercise
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Voter removals claimed by Congress chief
- 13.8 crore
- Electorate before the exercise
- 94.7 crore voters, according to the article
- Other commissioners cited
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
- Police action
- Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were briefly detained during the march