Full Breakdown
Karnataka Chief Minister Demands CEC Resignation and Fresh Electoral-Roll Revision
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Call for Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation and a New SIR
On Thursday, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar step down and that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Karnataka’s electoral rolls be scrapped and restarted. VCK president and Lok Sabha MP Thol. Thirumavalavan wrote to President Droupadi Murmu asking her to intervene, and the opposition bloc is preparing a parliamentary motion to remove Kumar, citing internal dissent within the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Background & Context
The SIR is a nationwide exercise to update voter lists ahead of upcoming elections. An investigation by *The Indian Express* revealed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded formal objections to poll-panel decisions on at least 14 occasions over the past ten months. Shivakumar argued that such dissent breaches the Commission’s internal decision-making norms.
Data & Statistics
- 14 documented objections by EC members Sandhu and Joshi.
- 46.88 lakh voters in the (ASDDO) category, most from Bengaluru.
- 43.81 lakh notices issued for discrepancies; 23.28 lakh target voters unmapped in the 2002 SIR.
- Shivakumar alleges that more than one crore names have been deleted from Karnataka’s rolls.
- Draft list published on 24 August; correction deadline is 4 October. Shivakumar’s extension request was dated 25 August.
Official Statements & Responses
- The note was signed by Deputy Director P Pawan.
- Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan, in an order dated 6 April, rejected an earlier impeachment notice, stating the allegations did not establish a prima facie case of “misbehaviour” under Articles 324(5) and 124(4). He warned that removal motions based on “administrative disagreements or political perceptions” could undermine the Commission’s independence.
- No direct response from President Murmu or CEC Kumar has been reported.
Criticism & Opposition
- Thol. Thirumavalavan urged President Murmu to halt SIR activities and seek Kumar’s resignation, citing the Indian Express report.
- A coalition led by the Trinamool Congress is drafting a motion to impeach Kumar. Notices submitted on 12 March bear the signatures of 130 Lok Sabha MPs and 63 Rajya Sabha MPs, citing alleged breaches of independence and handling of machine-readable rolls.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Shivakumar’s claim of “more than one crore” deletions differs from the 1.08 crore ASDDO entries reported by the Indian Express.
- The Election Commission has not disclosed whether the 14 objections led to substantive changes in the SIR methodology.
Verbatim Quote
- “When the (dissenting) voices are not accepted and the majority decision has not been upheld, he (CEC) can’t take decisions.” — K Shivakumar, FREE Karnataka chief