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Gyanesh Kumar faces protests and Supreme Court challenge over voter roll allegations
Opposition parties in India are mounting a coordinated challenge against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, following allegations of electoral irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. Protests have erupted across multiple states, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, with leaders such as B.K. Hariprasad and D.K. Shivakumar demanding Kumar’s resignation and arrest.
The controversy intensified following an investigation by The Indian Express, which reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected at least 14 times over the past 10 months to decisions made without their knowledge. Critics allege that the SIR process has led to the mass deletion of eligible voters, with some claims suggesting up to 130 million voters were removed nationwide.
The legal battle has reached the Supreme Court, where a petition seeks to hold Kumar accountable for potentially unconstitutional actions. Meanwhile, the INDIA Alliance is preparing for a high-level meeting in Delhi on September 30 to finalize a joint strategy. Additionally, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has called for nationwide protests beginning in Mumbai on October 2, a movement that has gained support from leaders like Aaditya Thackeray and members of the CPI(M).
Entities
B. K. Hariprasad · Congress Party · D. K. Shivakumar · Election Commission of India · Gyanesh Kumar · India alliance · Indian National Congress · Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee · Rahul Gandhi · Supreme Court of India
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Election Commission is colluding with the BJP in 'vote theft'. www.dtnext.in
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) plans to launch nationwide protests starting in Mumbai on October 2 if Gyanesh Kumar does not resign. www.timesnownews.com · www.dnaindia.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Over 10.7 million voters have been removed from the electoral rolls in Karnataka. english.publictv.in · munsifdaily.com · www.mangalorean.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] 6.4 million votes were forfeited in Bihar and 9.1 million in West Bengal. english.publictv.in · munsifdaily.com · www.mangalorean.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected at least 14 times in the last 10 months to decisions made without their knowledge. najarbandi.in · www.dtnext.in · www.millenniumpost.in
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) resulted in the removal of approximately 130 million voters nationwide, including 30 million in Maharashtra. thecsrjournal.in
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A lawsuit has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking to hold Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar legally accountable for unconstitutional decisions. najarbandi.in
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The INDIA Alliance is scheduled to meet in Delhi on September 30 to discuss the Election Commission's role and the SIR process. uttarbangasambad.com