Opposition unites against CEC Gyanesh Kumar amidst allegations surrounding SIR, demand resignation
Tensions have been growing in the political landscape as the opposition has been calling for resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over allegations surrounding SIR electoral roll excercise laps and reported internal objection with the ECI.
Former Karnataka CM, and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah demanded the sacking of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR matter. He also called for a registeration of a criminal case against him and a formal investigation into his conduct. His remarks cam while addressing Protest organized by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee at Freedom Park against the Election Commission of India.
“The Election Commission is not an institution that should be loyal to any government or political party. It should be loyal only to the Constitution given by Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar. The Election Commission should not be an institution that dances to the tune of the Central Government,” said Siddaramaiah.
Echoing the chorus, the BRS chief former MP B Vinod Kumar also demanded the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, alleging controversial decisions and large scale division of votes. The remarks were made while speaking at a press conference on Saturday.
“The Election Commission of India is an independent constitutional body. It is not meant to determine who wins or who loses,” he said.
He also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s actions had placed the Election Commission in a deplorable situation.
Earlier on Friday, Congress held nationwide protests demanding the resignation of the top official and arrest as reports of repeated objections from the two other Election Commissioners widened the controversy over the functioning of the poll body.
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal demanded not only Kumar’s resignation but his arrest, alleging electoral malpractice. The demand is an allegation by the Congress; no finding of criminal wrongdoing against the CEC has been established by the protests themselves.
CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML) -liberation have also stepped up their attack demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and an immediate halt to the SIR process.
Opposition INDIA bloc parties are liekly to meet on September 30 to discuss the concerns over the current ECI and SIR situation, sources revealed.
The political turmoil stems from an investigation by The renowned media house reporting that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had placed objections or concerns on record at least 14 times between November 2025 and August 2026 over decisions concerning electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).