Former Union Minister R.K. Singh Alleges Illegalities by CEC Over Voter Roll Revision

Former Union Minister and Home Secretary R.K. Singh has released a scathing open letter calling on citizens to unite to save democracy, alleging that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his bosses are committing illegalities through the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Singh, a BJP MP from 2014 to 2024 and former Minister of Power in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, stated that 13 crore names, or 13 percent of voters, have been deleted through the SIR so far, noting that the difference between the NDA and INDIA in the 2024 elections was only 3 percent.

The Allegations

Singh claimed that the Election Commission committed several violations, arguing that ordering an intensive revision across the entire country violates Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which provides for special revisions only for specific constituencies. He alleged that Gyanesh Kumar removed the names of voters listed after 2003 without any basis, inquiry, or show cause, improperly shifting the burden of proof onto citizens by requiring them to apply as fresh voters through Form 6. Citing an Indian Express report, Singh noted that two other Election Commission members, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had also repeatedly questioned the CEC over decisions related to the SIR.

Opposition Action

Writing on X on Monday, Singh dismissed the Opposition's plan to impeach the CEC as an exercise in futility due to a lack of numbers, suggesting instead that criminal cases be filed against him. He urged all Opposition parties to unite and refuse to participate in elections until the CEC and Election Commissioners resign, and to demand that successors be appointed under the committee system proposed by the Supreme Court in its 2023 judgment. Furthermore, he called for elections held while voter appeals were pending to be set aside and re-held using paper ballots rather than electronic voting machines.

Context

The Special Intensive Revision of electoral lists is a periodic administrative exercise conducted by election authorities to update voter registries by adding eligible citizens and removing entries for deceased or relocated individuals. Electoral rolls form the foundational basis of any democratic election, determining citizen eligibility to vote in local and national polls. Debates over voter roll revisions and the independence of election oversight bodies frequently emerge during periods of intense political competition in India.