Full Breakdown
Election Commission Issues Unanimous Clarification on Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 26, 2026, the Election Commission of India (EC) released a statement confirming that all decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were taken unanimously by the three-member panel headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Election Commissioners S. S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The clarification was presented as a response to media reports of internal dissent and aimed to reaffirm the credibility of India’s constitutional institutions.
Background & Context
The SIR process is a nationwide exercise launched to update voter lists and correct inaccuracies. It gained public attention after reports surfaced that Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi had recorded objections to certain SIR-related decisions over a ten-month period. The EC later explained that such differing views are part of normal deliberations and that the final outcomes of the full panel remained unanimous.
Official Statements & Responses
- **N. He emphasized that electoral outcomes reflect the people’s mandate and that political leaders must accept both victories and defeats with humility.
- He framed the clarification as a fulfillment of his responsibility to convey public concerns to the commission.
- Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Shiv Sena chief, also targeted opposition parties, alleging they question the EC and electronic voting machines only when electoral outcomes are unfavorable.
Criticism & Opposition
JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha and Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde accused opposition parties of spreading misinformation to undermine confidence in the EC. Their statements suggest a partisan dimension to the controversy, with the criticism focused on alleged attempts to cast doubt on the unanimity of the commission’s decisions.
Data & Statistics
- The nationwide SIR order was issued on June 24, 2025. The EC stated that this order received unanimous approval from all three commissioners and was subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court.
- Following the controversy, the EC announced procedural reforms, including advance circulation of meeting agendas, post-meeting minutes, and a pilot program for doorstep collection of voter documents by Booth Level Officers.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Media reports indicated that Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi had sent letters to the Cabinet Secretary raising objections to certain aspects of the SIR, leading to speculation about internal disagreement. The EC countered that these letters concerned an officer on deputation and not policy matters, and reiterated that the final decisions were unanimous. No independent verification of the alleged objections has been provided, leaving a gap between reported internal dissent and the commission’s official narrative.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Today, the Election Commission has clarified its position on all key issues, point by point. Facts regarding the SIR process, the unanimity among the three Commissioners, and the meeting with the Cabinet Secretary have also been clearly presented. This clarity further strengthens public trust in democracy,” — Chirag Paswan, union minister
- “The unanimous clarification issued by the Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alongside Election Commissioners S. S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, reaffirms the integrity and credibility of our constitutional institutions and puts to rest all the misconceptions surrounding it,” — N. Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister
- “Respect for our constitutional institutions is paramount,” — N. Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister