'Majority Not With Gyanesh Kumar': Kapil Sibal Demands CEC Suspension, Halt to SIR

Kapil Sibal Demands Suspension of CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has called for the immediate suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Speaking at a press conference on September 23, Sibal alleged that Kumar did not have the support of the majority within the three-member Election Commission and questioned how decisions concerning electoral-roll revision were being taken.

Sibal's comments followed a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions to decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise.

The allegations have triggered a fresh political controversy over the functioning of the Election Commission.

What Did Sibal Claim?

Sibal referred to reports that the two other Election Commissioners had objected to decisions concerning the electoral-roll revision process on multiple occasions.

He alleged that Sandhu and Joshi had questioned the working methods of the CEC and that some decisions were taken without their concurrence.

Sibal argued that because the Election Commission is now a three-member body, important decisions should be made through the prescribed decision-making process rather than being taken unilaterally.

These are Sibal's allegations and interpretation of the reported internal communications. The Election Commission has disputed the suggestion that there was a formal split in decision-making.

What Is the Reported Disagreement Inside the Election Commission?

The controversy follows a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months.

According to the report, the objections concerned decisions involving additions, deletions and restoration of voters, changes to the voter-registration process and management of electoral-roll data.

The reported disagreements have become particularly significant because they relate to the SIR exercise, which is being conducted across several states and involves verification and revision of electoral rolls.

Election Commission Says SIR Decisions Were Unanimous

The Election Commission has pushed back against the suggestion that the poll panel was divided over SIR.

EC sources said that decisions of the Commission, including those related to the SIR process, were taken unanimously with the approval of all three Election Commissioners.

This position directly contrasts with the interpretation advanced by Sibal and other opposition leaders, who have cited the reported objections as evidence of differences within the Commission.

The reported internal correspondence and the EC's public position therefore form two different accounts of how the disagreements affected formal decision-making.

Sibal Raises Questions Over Electoral-Roll Software

Sibal also questioned changes to access and control over the Election Commission's electoral-roll software.

He alleged that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) should have control over access relating to additions to electoral rolls but claimed that such access was revoked.

According to Sibal, the two other Election Commissioners had objected to the change.

The allegation concerns the administrative and technical procedures used to manage electoral-roll data and has not been established as a finding of wrongdoing by the Election Commission.

Controversy Over Form 6

Another issue raised by Sibal concerns Form 6, which is used by eligible individuals to apply for inclusion in electoral rolls.

Sibal alleged that an additional question asking applicants whether they had previously voted was introduced without a formal amendment to the form.

He questioned the authority under which the change was made and alleged that the CEC had acted on his own initiative.

The allegation is part of Sibal's broader argument that some changes to voter-registration procedures were introduced without the required institutional process.

Sibal Claims Large-Scale Voter Deletions

Sibal also raised concerns over the scale of voter deletions during the SIR exercise.

He claimed that around 13 crore names had been deleted, using the figure to argue that the electoral-roll revision could have significant consequences for voters.

The figure and its interpretation are politically contested. A deletion from an electoral roll can reflect several circumstances, including death, migration, duplication or other eligibility-related issues, and the final effect on individual voting rights depends on the applicable claims, objections and restoration procedures.

Opposition Parties Join the Criticism

Sibal's comments came amid a broader opposition campaign against the Election Commission's handling of SIR.

Leaders from several opposition parties have raised concerns following reports of internal objections by Sandhu and Joshi.

CPI(M) MP John Brittas described the situation as a "one-man autocracy" under the CEC and called for Kumar's removal. Congress leaders have also demanded explanations concerning the reported objections.

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien separately called for action on a Rajya Sabha motion seeking Kumar's removal that was submitted earlier in 2026.

These are political positions expressed by opposition leaders and do not constitute judicial or independent findings about the Election Commission's conduct.

What Is the Special Intensive Revision?

The Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, is an electoral-roll verification and revision exercise conducted by the Election Commission.

The process involves checking voter information and identifying entries that may require correction, verification, deletion or restoration.

The Commission has defended SIR as a measure intended to maintain accurate electoral rolls and identify entries that do not meet the requirements for inclusion.

The political controversy concerns both the methodology of the exercise and how decisions affecting voters are being implemented.

Why SIR Has Become a Major Political Issue

Electoral-roll revision has become one of the most contentious political issues in India in 2026.

Opposition parties have repeatedly raised concerns that eligible voters could face difficulties if their current information does not match historical records or if their names are removed during the verification process.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, has maintained that the exercise is necessary to ensure that electoral rolls are accurate and free from ineligible or duplicate entries.

The dispute therefore involves both electoral administration and competing interpretations of the consequences of the revision process.

Sibal Calls for Immediate Halt

Sibal has gone beyond seeking clarification from the Election Commission.

He demanded that Gyanesh Kumar be suspended immediately and that the SIR process be halted.

He also questioned the validity of recent elections conducted after the SIR exercise and called for further action over what he described as irregularities in the electoral-roll process.

These demands represent Sibal's political position and have not been adopted as findings by a court or the Election Commission.

Earlier Motion Seeking CEC's Removal

The controversy also connects to an earlier parliamentary move seeking Kumar's removal.

According to Derek O'Brien, a motion submitted to the Rajya Sabha chairman in April 2026 seeking the CEC's removal had received the support of more than the required number of MPs.

Article 324(5) of the Constitution provides for the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge.

The existence of such a motion is separate from Sibal's latest demand for suspension.

Election Commission's Institutional Structure

The Election Commission currently consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.

That structure is relevant to the latest controversy because Sibal's argument centres on whether decisions were taken with the participation and agreement of all three members.

The Election Commission's response that decisions were unanimous, however, presents a different account of the significance of the reported objections.

The distinction between internal objections during deliberations and the formal decision of the Commission is therefore central to the dispute.

What Happens Next?

The political controversy is likely to continue as opposition parties seek explanations from the Election Commission and demand action against the CEC.

The Commission is expected to continue defending the SIR exercise and its decision-making process.

Any legal challenge concerning electoral-roll revisions or the functioning of the Commission could ultimately require courts to examine the relevant statutory and constitutional provisions.

For voters, the practical issue remains whether their names are correctly included in the electoral rolls and whether mechanisms for correction, claims and objections are functioning effectively.

Key Points at a Glance

IssueCurrent PositionMain criticRajya Sabha MP Kapil SibalCEC targetedGyanesh KumarMain demandSuspension of CEC and halt to SIROther Election CommissionersSukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek JoshiReported objectionsAt least 14 occasions, according to reportsMain issues citedVoter additions, deletions, restoration and registration proceduresEC's positionSIR-related decisions were unanimousOther opposition demandRemoval of CECSIRSpecial Intensive Revision of electoral rollsFinal judicial findingNone established by the latest developments

Bottom Line

Kapil Sibal has demanded the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. He cited reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected to several decisions involving voter registration and electoral-roll procedures.

The Election Commission, however, has maintained that decisions related to SIR were taken unanimously with the participation of all three commissioners.

The dispute is therefore currently centred on the interpretation of internal objections, the decision-making process within the Election Commission and the broader methodology of SIR. Sibal's demand for suspension and a halt to the exercise remains a political demand rather than an established finding against the CEC.