Bihar NDA leaders split on CEC Gyanesh Kumar row over electoral roll SIR
Synopsis
Bihar's NDA is not speaking with one voice on the Election Commission row. While Lalan Singh defends the CEC and attacks Congress, both Chirag Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha are urging the Election Commission to come clean with the public — a rare crack in coalition ranks on a sensitive constitutional matter.
Key Takeaways
NDA leaders in Bihar have offered divergent responses to the controversy over CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Upendra Kushwaha urged the Election Commission to immediately issue a public clarification to address widespread confusion over the SIR row.
Union Minister Lalan Singh defended the CEC and accused the Congress of 'unnecessarily' attacking constitutional institutions.
Chirag Paswan said he would 'not defend anyone' on the basis of NDA membership, calling on the Election Commission to address public concerns independently.
The Election Commission of India has denied any internal division, stating all SIR-related decisions were taken unanimously by all three Election Commissioners.
Reports claim Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections over electoral-roll revision procedures — a claim the Commission disputes.
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders in Bihar have offered sharply divergent responses to the escalating controversy surrounding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, even as Opposition parties intensify demands for accountability over alleged voter deletions.
Key Developments
Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) President and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha called on the Election Commission to step in with an immediate public clarification. 'There is considerable confusion among the public regarding the controversy surrounding the SIR. This matter needs to be addressed. The Election Commission should immediately issue a clarification regarding the actual situation to dispel this confusion,' Kushwaha said in a post on his official X account. He added that concerns surrounding the SIR exercise should be examined by the appropriate authorities — a notably measured response from within the ruling coalition.
The remarks came against the backdrop of reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on multiple occasions over decisions and procedures relating to the electoral-roll revision process. The Election Commission of India has, however, rejected suggestions of any internal division, maintaining that all decisions on the SIR were taken unanimously and with the approval of all three Election Commissioners.
Lalan Singh Defends CEC, Targets Congress
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, widely known as Lalan Singh, took a more combative line, firmly defending CEC Gyanesh Kumar while directing criticism at the Congress. 'The Congress is unnecessarily making an issue out of this. It should review the real reasons for its defeat. Attacking Constitutional institutions has been a tradition of the Congress,' Singh said. His position reflects the BJP-led coalition's default stance of rallying around constitutional bodies when under political fire.
Chirag Paswan Calls for EC to Address Public Concerns
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-RV) Chief Chirag Paswan staked out a more independent position. Responding to questions about the row, Paswan said he would not defend anyone simply by virtue of being part of the NDA government. 'I don't know. As part of the government, I will not defend anyone. The Election Commission is an independent Constitutional institution. If questions are being raised about the Commission, I believe it is the responsibility of the Election Commission — and especially the CEC — to firmly present its side,' he said.
Paswan added that the poll panel's engagement should be directed at the public rather than being driven by a desire to appease the Opposition. 'The CEC should not act merely to appease the Opposition; instead, the Commission should take the public into confidence. That is the beauty of democracy,' he said. He acknowledged that political opposition inherently involves raising allegations: 'Engaging in politics is the Opposition's job; if they don't make allegations, how will they pursue their politics?'
Background: What the SIR Row Is About
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has drawn sustained opposition criticism over concerns about the scale and nature of voter deletions. Opposition parties have levelled allegations against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, demanding greater transparency in the revision process. The controversy has been compounded by reports — the veracity of which the Election Commission disputes — suggesting that the two other Election Commissioners dissented from certain decisions taken during the SIR exercise.
What Happens Next
The divergence within NDA ranks, particularly Kushwaha's and Paswan's calls for the Election Commission to proactively clarify its position, adds internal pressure alongside the external Opposition campaign. With Bihar's political climate closely watched ahead of electoral cycles, how the Election Commission responds — and whether it issues a formal public communication on the SIR process — will be closely tracked by all stakeholders.
Point of View
Not a short-term liability to be defended reflexively. When senior NDA figures ask the CEC to 'take the public into confidence,' they are signalling that the current stonewalling is politically costly. The Election Commission's insistence that the SIR was unanimous reads as defensive rather than reassuring — and with Bihar's voter-registration stakes high, the credibility gap the Commission leaves unfilled will be filled by Opposition narratives.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls controversy?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a process conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and revise voter rolls. It has drawn controversy after Opposition parties alleged that the process led to large-scale voter deletions, and reports emerged suggesting that two Election Commissioners raised objections over certain decisions taken during the exercise. The Election Commission has rejected claims of internal division and maintains all SIR decisions were unanimous.
What did Chirag Paswan say about the CEC row?
LJP-RV Chief Chirag Paswan said he would not defend anyone simply because he was part of the NDA government, and called on the Election Commission to address public concerns directly rather than responding to the Opposition. He said the CEC should 'take the public into confidence' as a matter of democratic responsibility.
Why did Upendra Kushwaha call for an Election Commission clarification?
Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha said there was 'considerable confusion' among the public over the SIR controversy, and that the Election Commission needed to issue an immediate clarification to dispel it. His remarks, posted on his official X account, were notable for being a call for transparency from within the ruling NDA coalition.
How did Union Minister Lalan Singh respond to the CEC controversy?
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, known as Lalan Singh, defended CEC Gyanesh Kumar and criticised the Congress, saying the party was 'unnecessarily making an issue' of the matter. He accused the Congress of a pattern of attacking constitutional institutions rather than reflecting on its own electoral defeats.
Has the Election Commission acknowledged any internal disagreement over the SIR?
No. The Election Commission of India has explicitly rejected the suggestion of any division within the three-member panel, stating that all decisions relating to the Special Intensive Revision were taken unanimously and with the approval of all three Election Commissioners, including Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
