Election Commission controversy: What sparked the SIR controversy? Oppn demands arrest of Gyanesh Kumar; BJP reacts | Explained | Today’s news

The political controversy erupted on Wednesday after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times in 10 months, four times in a single day, against decisions and orders related to the functioning of the Election Commission, including aspects of special intensive review (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The Election Commission said the reported objections were part of the normal consultative process and claimed that all key decisions, including those related to the SIR, were taken unanimously by the entire Commission. However, opposition parties cited the report that questioned the functioning of the Election Commission and demanded the removal and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

What does the report say?

According to the report, “Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have raised at least 14 objections in the last 10 months against decisions taken and orders issued without their knowledge”.

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Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi raised 14 objections in 10 months, focusing on aspects such as changes to Form 6, checking of electoral roll database and erasure of voters’ names without their knowledge.

The Electoral Commission said that differences of opinion among its members are normal during deliberations and that all key decisions, including those related to the SIR, were taken unanimously by the full commission.

Opposition parties, including the Congress and the AAP, demanded the removal and prosecution of Gyanesh Kumar, saying he was responsible for election rigging and had undermined the integrity of the Election Commission.

Form 6 is used by individuals to apply for voter registration and has been revised to include queries about names appearing on the voter list from the previous SIR, which affects new voter verification.

Opposition leaders are arguing for cancellation, saying the objections point to serious flaws in the SIR process that threaten the integrity of electoral rolls, while the Electoral Commission says its procedures follow legal frameworks.

The report said the two commissioners raised objections to measures they believed had been taken without their knowledge and related to issues such as changes to Form 6, checking of the electoral roll database, deletion of voters and recalls in West Bengal and the treatment of eligible voters in Goa.

Form 6 is used by individuals to apply to register as a new voter. The form was revised in July to include questions about SIR. According to the revised form, new applicants were required to indicate whether their name or the name of a parent or grandparent appears in the voter list prepared during the previous SIR.

The objections were recorded between November 2025 and August 2026 and related to registration, deletion and restoration of voters, appeals against decisions related to SIR and custody and security of electoral roll data, the report said.

Read also | Advani, Jaishankar, Rekha, Kejriwal: Why so many VIP voters got SIR notice?

Sandhu and Joshi reportedly raised concerns about the “progressive centralization” of the electoral roll database in Delhi. They have separately written to Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan about changes in the allocation of work related to the IT infrastructure that processes voter rolls, according to the report.

EK denies the report of differences in commissions compared to SIR

The EC said operational concerns or suggestions raised by its members during the draft phase are part of normal administrative procedures designed to protect voters’ rights. She added that the commissioners’ contributions were aimed at further strengthening and improving the electoral process.

“All official orders, decisions and administrative instructions issued by the Commission carry full legal sanction and follow the prescribed statutory procedures under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Tenure) Act, 2023,” the statement said, according to PTI.

He added: “Different opinions and observations are a normal part of the proceedings in any institution. They are part of the decision-making process before the final decision is taken. Not only the three commissioners, but every official of the Commission is fully entitled to submit to the Commission their proposals to improve the electoral system.”

Controversy SIR

SIR is an electoral roll verification carried out by the ECI to identify and address irregularities in the electoral rolls, including duplicate entries, names of deceased voters and voters who have changed their residence. The exercise has sparked a political and legal row over the scale and process of voter deletion, with provisional lists in states such as West Bengal and Bihar showing large numbers of names excluded at various stages of the exercise.

‘Gyanesh Kumar will be arrested and prosecuted’: Opposition amid ‘chori vote’ claims

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi cited the report while renewing his accusation of “chori elections” against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), RSS and the Election Commission.

Read also | Delhi SIR Proposals: Why almost 33% voters deleted

“Vote chori is a crime against the people of India and a direct attack on our constitution,” Gandhi said on X. He further alleged that the BJP, RSS and EC had “committed high treason” and said, “Justice will be served.”

The Congress also demanded action against Kumar.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal also launched a scathing attack on the poll panel citing the report as proof of alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Commission.

Read also | CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke slams Modi govt, Election Commission for ‘democracy’

Kejriwal demanded that Gyanesh Kumar be arrested and prosecuted under sedition provisions. He also called for annulment of the recent elections in Delhi, Bihar, West Bengal and Maharashtra and for fresh elections. He alleged that Kumar functioned as the “mastermind” of the election rigging.

“Until now, we have heard allegations that PM Modi and Amit Shah have been winning election after election by stealing votes. But a story in The Indian Express today has proved that they are winning elections through vote rigging, with Gyanesh Kumar as their mastermind. We demand that Gyanesh Kumar be arrested and prosecuted and that elections be held in Bitra and West Benhirash, Maharled Benhirash re-executed,” he said.

Other opposition parties and their leaders such as Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray (UBT), former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament (MP) Abhishek Banerjee, Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), MP John Brittas and Samajwadi Party (SP), all Election chiefs Yadav, Akhiles all defeated Kushmar. The Electoral Commission tried to interfere in the electoral process and drew attention to its consequences for democratic institutions.

BJP defends functioning of EC

The BJP on Wednesday said reports of three election commissioners expressing differing views during official meetings showed that the election commission was functioning democratically.

The ruling party also said the report contradicted the opposition’s claim that the poll panel was “dictatorial”.

“If there is no communication and exchange of views between the poll commissioners, the opposition parties would blame ‘dictatorship’ and call them ‘yes men’ of the government,” said BJP leader Sambit Patra.

“This shows that the Election Commission (EC) and all other constitutional bodies are functioning democratically and are promoting the country’s democracy. All the opposition parties, who call the EC and the government dictatorial, have fallen into their own trap today,” added Patra.