Full Breakdown
Gyanesh Kumar’s Tenure Under Fire: SIR Roll Revision Sparks Institutional Crisis
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Opposition parties and civil-society groups are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar after an investigative report revealed that Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi formally objected at least 14 times to decisions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The objections, recorded between 28 Oct 2025 and 14 Aug 2026, concern voter-addition and deletion procedures, changes to Form 6, and centralisation of the EC’s database. The controversy has triggered nationwide protests, a petition before the Supreme Court, and an upcoming INDIA-bloc strategy meeting.
Background & Context
SIR, a clean-up of India’s voter lists launched in June 2025, had removed more than 130 million names—about 13 percent of the electorate—by September 2026 across 30 states and union territories. Kumar, a former IAS officer appointed CEC in February 2025 under the 2023 law that placed a cabinet minister on the selection panel, has faced criticism that the law weakens the Commission’s independence.
Data & Statistics
- ? 130 million names struck from draft rolls.
- 14 formal objections by Sandhu and Joshi over a 10-month period (Indian Express).
- SIR has affected > 1 billion registered voters nationwide.
Official Statements & Responses
- A senior BJP functionary said the social-media campaign to change display pictures was “organic support” for the CEC’s “free, fair and violence-free” elections.
- Uttar Pradesh Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh rejected claims of a “setback” for the Commission, noting validation by the public, other constitutional bodies and the courts.
Criticism & Opposition
- Former Union Home Secretary R. K. Singh accused Kumar of “blatantly illegal” removal of voters listed after 2003, calling the exercise a violation of the Representation of the People Act.
- BJP MP Naresh Bansal countered that there is “no confusion within the ECI” and that dissent is part of normal internal consultation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Deletion figures: Congress cites 13.3 crore deletions; other outlets report 130 million. No independent audit has been released.
- Decision-making process: The ECI asserts unanimity, while a petition filed by Rakesh Kumar Singh argues many actions were taken without Sandhu’s and Joshi’s approval, citing their written objections.
- Transparency: Opposition groups demand full disclosure of agendas, minutes and audit trails; the Commission has only released a joint photograph of the three commissioners and a statement that internal notes are “part of standard administrative practice”.
Timeline
- June 2025 – SIR launched.
- 28 Oct 2025 – First recorded objection by Joshi.
- 16 May 2026 – Joshi objects to alteration of Form 6.
- 19 May 2026 – Sandhu concurs with Joshi’s objection.
- 23 Sept 2026 – Indian Express publishes the objection report.
- 26 Sept 2026 – ECI reiterates unanimous consent for SIR orders.
- 28 Sept 2026 – Retired IAS officer R. K. Singh issues open letter.
- 29 Sept 2026 – Supreme Court lists the petition for hearing.
- 30 Sept 2026 – INDIA-bloc meeting scheduled.
- 2 Oct 2026 – Opposition-backed protest planned.
What’s Next
The Supreme Court will hear the petition challenging Kumar’s unilateral exercise of authority next week, examining compliance with Section 18 of the 2023 appointment Act. The INDIA-bloc meeting on 30 Sept 2026 is set to finalize a joint agitation plan, including a possible parliamentary motion for Kumar’s removal. Civil-society groups continue to demand an independent audit of the EC’s voter-database access logs. The outcome will determine whether the Commission’s credibility can be restored before the 2027 general elections.