‘Gyanesh, It’s Done Bro’: Calls Grow for CEC’s Exit Amid ECI Rift

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is facing renewed demands for his resignation amid reports of repeated objections by two Election Commissioners over decisions concerning electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

The latest controversy was triggered by a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and orders they alleged were issued without their knowledge. Their concerns reportedly covered voter additions and deletions, changes to Form 6 used for new voter registration, electoral-roll software and the implementation of SIR.

The report also highlighted software-related problems in Goa, where 97 voters found eligible by local officials were reportedly left out of the final electoral roll, while questions were raised over the authorisation of appeals involving voters in West Bengal.

The revelations have intensified the Opposition's campaign against Kumar. The Congress has called nationwide protests on September 25, with state units asked to march to election offices demanding action against Kumar and an independent review of electoral-roll changes and decisions taken during his tenure. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) is scheduled to march to the Lok Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.

The Opposition is also preparing a fresh removal motion in both Houses of Parliament. Earlier attempts to initiate proceedings against Kumar were rejected or not admitted. In April, 73 Opposition MPs had submitted a removal notice in the Rajya Sabha.

Separately, MNS chief Raj Thackeray has demanded Kumar's resignation and called for an investigation into what he described as the "masterminds" allegedly operating behind the Election Commission's decisions.

The Indian Youth Congress has launched a petition titled "Gyanesh, It's Done Bro", seeking Kumar's removal and an investigation into electoral-roll decisions. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has also issued a 48-hour resignation ultimatum and threatened a Delhi protest described as "Jantar Mantar 2.0".

The Election Commission has maintained that differences and observations during institutional deliberations are normal and has defended its decisions, including those concerning SIR. Under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, the CEC can be removed only through a process similar to that applicable to a Supreme Court judge.