EC in turmoil over SIR as opposition escalates after objections
Two election commissioners have raised objections 14 times in the three-member election commission.
In Bihar, the Election Commission (ECI) launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in June 2025, initially seen as a regular review and improvement process of the voter list. However, this process is now at the center of significant political and public controversy. According to reports, over 1.3 crore names have been removed from the draft voter lists across 30 states and Union Territories.
During this entire process, questions have been raised within the Election Commission regarding the addition and removal of names from the voter list and access to voter data. According to an investigation by the Indian Express,
two of the three Election Commissioners—Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi—have formally objected multiple times to decisions made and orders issued within the Commission.
According to the report,
over the past 10 months, both Election Commissioners have recorded their objections at least 14 times, with four objections filed on the same day. Both officials stated that some decisions and orders were made without their knowledge.
Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi raised questions on several critical issues, including the process of adding new voters and removing names from the voter list.
Both Election Commissioners described some steps related to adding new voters as ‘unauthorized’ and ‘illegal’. They also expressed concern that centralizing access to the voter database in Delhi could sideline the role of state-level officials. Questions were also raised regarding the reliability of the software related to voter data. According to the report, the two dissenting Election Commissioners had also reached out to the Cabinet Secretary regarding this matter.
After the report by the Indian Express, opposition parties have raised questions about Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission.
The Congress party alleged that important decisions being taken in the Election Commission were not being communicated to the other two Election Commissioners. The Congress accused Gyanesh Kumar on the social media platform X of working in favor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and being involved in ‘vote theft’.
The Congress referred to Gyanesh Kumar as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ‘favorite’ and stated that,
the complaints revealed in the report indicate that both Election Commissioners—Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi—were not informed of important decisions.
The Congress also alleged that the government has taken control of the Election Commission and stated that the report by Indian Express has substantiated these allegations. Congress leader Manish Tewari also raised questions regarding the report.
He stated that,
if the facts presented in the report are correct, it seems that there is some ‘invisible hand’ working behind the functioning of the Election Commission. If rules were not followed and decisions were made that were not unanimous or majority-based, it raises serious questions about the legitimacy and credibility of the Election Commission's decisions.
Tewari further stated that,
there is a need to seriously consider the impeachment process against the CEC in this matter. How will the credibility of the Election Commission be restored?
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut also targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He claimed in a social media post that Gyanesh Kumar will have to go to jail.
Following the report, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) wrote to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien stated on X that,
about five months ago, more than 60 Rajya Sabha MPs had proposed the removal of Gyanesh Kumar. He said that now, after the news of objections raised by the two Election Commissioners regarding several decisions of the CEC, that proposal should be taken forward.
O'Brien, in his letter, demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on the grounds of ‘proven misconduct’.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stated that the report indicates that all members of the Election Commission are not able to independently discharge their responsibilities. He said that,
if members of an independent constitutional body do not have the freedom to work impartially or are not being heard, it is a serious situation for democracy. The Supreme Court should take suo motu cognizance of this matter.
CPM MP John Brittas described the Election Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as ‘a one-man autocracy’ and accused it of undermining the Commission and the democratic system. He stated that,
Parliament should immediately initiate the process to remove the Chief Election Commissioner. Brittas claimed that his party had already submitted a notice to remove Gyanesh Kumar on April 24, 2026, which included the signatures of around 70 MPs.
Brittas also demanded that the Supreme Court immediately annul the entire SIR process.
He stated that,
when two out of three Election Commissioners are declaring a process illegal and detrimental to the credibility of the voter list, it raises questions about the silence of the court.
Indian Express’s investigation revealed that,
the claims raised have questioned the decision-making process within the Election Commission, access to voter data, and the transparency of major electoral exercises like SIR.
However, apart from the allegations presented in the report and the statements from opposition parties, the complete response from the concerned parties and the final legal or constitutional conclusions regarding these claims will depend on various levels. The future actions of the Election Commission and the judiciary in this matter will be crucial.