Full Breakdown
INDIA Bloc Convenes to Target Election Commission Over SIR Controversy
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Sep 30 2026 Meeting at the Constitution Club
On September 30, 2026 senior leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc met in New Delhi to plan a response to alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The three-and-a-half-hour session, attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, and representatives of the Samajwadi Party, RJD, CPI(M), NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT), produced a six-point programme that includes district-level “Save Democracy” marches (Oct 2-8), a parliamentary march on October 6, and a national rally on November 1.
Background & Context
The SIR exercise, intended to clean voter lists, has been contested by opposition parties, who allege mass deletions of genuine voters. *The Indian Express* reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi lodged objections on record at least 14 times over ten months, saying many decisions were taken without their knowledge. The Congress Working Committee demanded Kumar’s resignation, suspension of SIR, and restoration of the 13.3 crore names removed from rolls.
Timeline
- June 8, 2026 – Previous INDIA bloc meeting (NEET-CBSE row).
- September 30, 2026 – Current meeting; draft notice for removal motion prepared.
- October 2-8, 2026 – District-level “Save Democracy” marches.
- October 6, 2026 – Opposition MPs to march to the Election Commission.
- November 1, 2026 – Planned mega-rally in Delhi.
Data & Statistics
- 13.3 crore voters alleged removed (Congress claim).
- 14 documented objections by two Election Commissioners.
- 130 Lok Sabha and 63 Rajya Sabha members signed an earlier removal notice (April 7, 2026).
- 73 Rajya Sabha MPs filed a second notice (April 24, 2026).
Official Statements & Responses
- Rahul Gandhi accused the government of “vote chori” and called the Commission’s actions “treason.”
- Mamata Banerjee demanded Kumar’s resignation, calling him a “thief, a dacoit” who had “hijacked EVMs.”
- Sonia Gandhi said the bloc would support any parliamentary motion to remove the CEC, even if parties are not formally in the INDIA alliance.
Criticism & Opposition
- Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan dismissed the “Save Democracy” march as a “Save Dynasty” exercise, calling it an “advance excuse for defeat.”
- S. Elangovan, DMK spokesperson, said the party would not attend the meeting because Congress had aligned with the TVK alliance in Tamil Nadu, though it would support any removal motion against Kumar.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The number of voters allegedly removed varies between 13.3 crore and 13 crore 30 lakh; both figures lack independent verification.
- While opposition leaders cite 14 objections, the Election Commission maintains that internal dissent is normal and that all orders have legal sanction.
Why It Matters
The bloc’s coordinated agitation seeks to pressure the Election Commission into reversing the SIR and to compel the CEC’s resignation, framing the issue as a challenge to electoral integrity. Success could reshape the legal framework governing voter-list revisions and affect the political calculus ahead of state elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and other battlegrounds.
What’s Next
- October 2-8: District-level “Save Democracy” marches.
- October 6: Opposition MPs to march to the Election Commission headquarters.
- November 1: Nationwide rally in Delhi.
- Ongoing legal challenge: a petition before the Supreme Court seeks a directive that the CEC cannot act unilaterally, citing Article 324.