The Daily PulseGeneral
Parties Demand CEC Resignation Over Poll Panel Disagreements
Reported by Rituparna Sen (Section Editor) · The Hindu - National ·
Confirmed by a second source: Indian Express - India
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is facing demands for his immediate resignation following reports that two other election commissioners raised formal objections over decision-making processes. A media report stated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections at least fourteen times in the past ten months, claiming major decisions were made without their knowledge and calling several actions unauthorized.
Demands And Protests
The Cockroach Janta Party gave a forty-eight-hour deadline for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, warning of nationwide agitations if he refuses to step down. Party leaders also demanded criminal proceedings against the CEC, the immediate halt of all upcoming elections, the restoration of pre-SIR voter rolls across all states, an independent inquiry commission to review SIR proceedings, the securing of all decision-making files by the Supreme Court, and the repeal of the 2023 appointment act for election commissioners. Meanwhile, the Election Commission responded by stating that all its actions followed proper laws and that highlighting select internal notes while ignoring a larger body of approvals gives only a partial picture.
Reactions Across States
Political leaders across multiple states joined the outcry regarding the Special Intensive Revision exercise of electoral rolls. In Goa, Congress leaders accused the ruling party and the Election Commission of trying to influence upcoming polls and sabotage elections through voter name deletions, demanding that the SIR exercise be rolled back. In Keralam, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan stressed the need to protect the independence and transparency of the poll panel to maintain voter trust, while sharing a post by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi condemning vote tampering. Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar also joined the call for the resignation of the CEC and requested a fresh voter roll revision amid concerns over institutional integrity.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
Internal disputes within the Election Commission of India became public after reports showed two election commissioners repeatedly objecting to decisions made by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.
Why It Matters
The Election Commission is meant to be a neutral, independent body that runs free and fair polls in India. When fellow commissioners accuse the head of taking unauthorized actions and political parties allege that voter lists are being manipulated to help the ruling party, it creates serious doubts about the fairness of Indian elections and the trust people place in democratic institutions.
What Happens Next
Opposition groups and regional leaders are continuing to pressure the central government through protests, legal demands, and calls for policy changes like repealing appointment laws. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court and public oversight groups may face increased pressure to step in and examine how election panel decisions and voter roll revisions are handled.
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