Full Breakdown
CJP’s Ultimatum to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 24, 2026 the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) issued a three-point demand: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar must resign within 48 hours or face a nationwide agitation modelled on the June-July 2024 Jantar Mantar protests. The demands also call for criminal proceedings against Kumar, an immediate freeze of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, restoration of the January 2025 voter list, and repeal of the 2023 law governing appointment of election commissioners.
Background & Context
The SIR, launched in mid-2025, is a country-wide clean-up of voter rolls intended to remove deceased, duplicate or ineligible entries. An investigative report by *The Indian Express* (September 23, 2026) revealed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded formal objections on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months to decisions taken “without their knowledge,” including changes to Form 6, centralisation of the ERONet system, and large-scale deletions.
The 2023 Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act altered the selection panel, giving the Prime Minister and a Union cabinet minister a two-to-one majority over the Leader of the Opposition. Opposition parties argue this undermines the Commission’s independence.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec 21 2023 | Enactment of the 2023 appointment Act. |
| May 6 2024 | Changes to Form 6 introduced. |
| July 25 2024 | CJP’s earlier Jantar Mantar protest led to resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. |
| Sep 23 2026 | *Indian Express* report on internal dissent. |
| Sep 24 2026 | CJP issues 48-hour resignation ultimatum. |
| Sep 25 2026 | Congress announces protest marches at state Election Commission offices. |
| Sep 28 2026 | Left parties schedule a week-long agitation. |
| Apr 24 2026 | 73 Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs submitted a notice seeking Kumar’s removal (pending). |
Data & Statistics
- More than 13 crore (? 13–14 % of the electorate) names have been removed from draft rolls across 30 states and union territories during the SIR.
- West Bengal: 27.16 lakh voters deleted; 22 lakh restoration appeals filed.
- Goa: 97 voters successfully challenged deletion at the state level but remained excluded due to centralised software.
- Delhi draft roll (Aug 31 2026) listed 97 lakh names, with 33.13 lakh notices issued for discrepancies.
Criticism & Opposition
Opposition leaders describe the issue as an assault on democratic fundamentals. Rahul Gandhi called it “an attack on the Constitution” and demanded Kumar’s resignation, labeling him and senior government figures “deshdrohis.” Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted the pending Rajya Sabha notice, while Priyanka Gandhi urged criminal prosecution if rigging is proven. Regional parties—including the DMK, Trinamool Congress and AAP—have echoed calls for a halt to SIR and for Kumar’s removal.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Election Commission’s position – All SIR-related orders were “unanimous” and legally sanctioned.
- Investigative findings – Sandhu and Joshi filed at least 14 formal objections, alleging many decisions were taken without their knowledge, that changes to Form 6 were “unauthorised and illegal,” and that centralised control of ERONet limited state-level officials.
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The row places the integrity of India’s electoral machinery under intense scrutiny, with the CJP’s ultimatum, opposition parliamentary moves, and the Election Commission’s defenses shaping a high-stakes contest over who controls the nation’s vote.