India’s Election Commission has become embroiled in a fresh controversy following allegations that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has been making significant decisions without the knowledge or approval of his fellow commissioners. According to a report in the Indian Express, Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have repeatedly raised concerns regarding the integrity of the voter database, modifications to voter enrollment procedures, and the security of electoral rolls. The report indicated that the two commissioners were excluded from consultation on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months, and they formally lodged a complaint with the chief secretary.
The controversy intensifies as the Election Commission continues its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the national electoral database. The commission states that this nationwide effort aims to remove ineligible names from voter rolls, particularly those of deceased individuals, citizens who have relocated or emigrated, and those registered multiple times. The Election Commission notes that the previous comprehensive revision occurred approximately 25 years ago. However, the SIR initiative has proven highly controversial, with approximately 130 million names removed from voter lists nationwide.
Opposition parties have voiced strong objections to the revision process, alleging that Chief Election Commissioner Kumar is manipulating the voter rolls to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party during elections. These claims have been rejected by both the BJP and the Election Commission. Complicating matters, citizens have reported that their names have been incorrectly removed from voter rolls, and many have faced obstacles in re-registering due to documentation requirements they cannot fulfill.
Following the Indian Express report, opposition leaders have intensified their calls for Kumar’s resignation, with some demanding his arrest. Congress party MP Rahul Gandhi and regional leader Mamata Banerjee have led these demands, characterizing the situation as detrimental to democratic processes. In response, the Election Commission released a statement asserting that differing viewpoints represent a normal part of institutional deliberation and decision-making. The BJP has characterized the opposition’s criticism as a “smear campaign” and has defended Kumar, noting that dissent reflects democratic vitality.
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