Story perspectives

Two Election Commissioners Object to India’s SIR Electoral Rolls

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 10:03 PM UTC · How we work

Left

Vote-Theft Allegations

On September 24 2026, India’s Election Commission announced that two commissioners formally objected to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The objections are framed as systemic threats to voters’ rights, accusing the government of a vote-theft scheme and demanding accountability.
Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi lodged at least 14 objections over ten months, citing voter deletions.
Parties demanded CEC Gyanesh Kumar resign, freeze SIR and called it a vote-theft scheme, Rahul Gandhi.

Right

Three Signature Rule

On September 24, 2026, the Election Commission of India said two commissioners formally objected to Special Intensive Revision electoral roll decisions.
The commission and BJP called the objections routine draft-stage input, noting that all final SIR decisions were unanimous and reflect normal deliberation.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma likened the commission process to cabinet discussions.
Officials said decisions need three signatures, and a 2-1 vote would override a minority.

Center

Janta Party Ultimatum

On September 24, 2026, India’s Election Commission disclosed two commissioners formally objected to Special Intensive Revision electoral roll decisions.
The Janta Party warned it would protest within 48 hours unless Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigned, citing removal of 13 crore names.
Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi logged 14 objections to Form 6 amendments and ERONet.
The Election Commission said all SIR decisions were unanimous and approved by all three commissioners.

Blindspot

The objections raised by commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi said the ECI Net system excluded state election officials, preventing Goa officers from restoring 97 voters to the final electoral roll.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

After a fractured February 2005 assembly vote, Bihar held two elections in October–November, where Janata Dal (United) secured a majority under chief minister Nitish Kumar across 243 constituencies. The episode highlighted persistent roll-purge tensions, and in September 2026 commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi lodged fourteen objections to a Special Intensive Revision that sought to delete millions of voter entries.

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Vote-Theft Allegations

On September 24 2026, India’s Election Commission announced that two commissioners formally objected to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The objections are framed as systemic threats to voters’ rights, accusing the government of a vote-theft scheme and demanding accountability.
Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi lodged at least 14 objections over ten months, citing voter deletions.
Parties demanded CEC Gyanesh Kumar resign, freeze SIR and called it a vote-theft scheme, Rahul Gandhi.

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