Congress Protests and Election Commission’s Response Over the Special Intensive Revision of Voter Rolls

On September 25 2026 the Indian National Congress launched nationwide demonstrations demanding the resignation—and in some statements, the arrest—of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protests cite alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which Congress says has disenfranchised millions of voters. The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a press note on September 26 2026 outlining procedural changes, deadline extensions, and confirming that all SIR orders were approved by the full commission.

‘Damage control’ after EC row: Congress demands SIR rollback, CEC’s resignation

The SIR is a periodic, large-scale update of India’s electoral rolls intended to remove duplicate or ineligible entries and add new voters. *The Indian Express* reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected at least 14 times over ten months to decisions made under the SIR, including changes to Form 6 and the centralisation of the ECINet database. The report prompted Congress to question the commission’s integrity.

ThePrint

The September 26 2026 press note asserted that:

‘Damage control’ after EC row: Congress demands SIR rollback, CEC’s resignation

• All SIR orders were issued after approval from all three Election Commissioners.

The Hindu

• Changes to Form 6 had been upheld by the Supreme Court.

‘Damage control’ after EC row: Congress demands SIR rollback, CEC’s resignation

• Letters from Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi to the Cabinet Secretary concerned the functioning of a deputed officer, not policy decisions.

ThePrint

• Physical hearings for “unmapped” voters will be replaced by home visits by Booth Level Officers, with online hearings only in exceptional cases.

First Post

• Deadlines for filing claims and objections were extended to October 30 2026 in Delhi and October 12 2026 in Maharashtra, with disposal deadlines of November 30 2026 and November 10 2026, respectively.

First Post

The commission also announced a committee—including an independent expert from an IIT/IIIT—to review the ECINet portal for statutory compliance.

The Hindu

Congress officials have repeatedly called for Kumar’s removal:

The Hindu

• K.C. Venugopal (Congress general secretary, organisation) urged that the CEC be arrested, calling his actions a “criminal offence.”

The Hindu

• May 27 2026 – Supreme Court order upholding Form 6 declaration.

The Hindu

• September 25 2026 – Congress initiates nationwide protests demanding CEC resignation.

The Hindu

• September 26 2026 – ECI announces procedural reforms, deadline extensions, and committee review.

First Post

• September 28 2026 (scheduled) – Dakshina Kannada District Congress rally.

The Hindu

• October 30 2026 – Final date for filing SIR claims in Delhi.

First Post

• November 30 2026 – Disposal deadline for Delhi SIR notices.

First Post

• Voter deletion figures vary: Congress cites 13.8 crore nationwide, while the ECI has not provided an aggregate number.

‘Damage control’ after EC row: Congress demands SIR rollback, CEC’s resignation

• Impact on first-time voters is contested: Congress alleges a two-year stall of special summary revisions, whereas the ECI maintains the Form 6 declaration remains valid.

The Hindu

• Nature of internal objections: The Indian Express notes written objections by Sandhu and Joshi; the ECI characterises the correspondence as unrelated to policy.

ThePrint

• The scheduled September 28 2026 rally in Dakshina Kannada will further pressure the commission.

The Hindu

• Extended filing deadlines give affected voters additional time to submit claims.

Amid Delhi SIR Row, Deadline For Claims, Objections Extended To October 30

• The committee headed by a senior deputy election commissioner and an IIT/IIIT expert will submit a compliance report on the ECINet portal, with no publication date announced.

The Hindu