SIR row: Congress alleges 13 crore voter deletions, demands CEC's removal
Synopsis
Congress has fired its most sweeping electoral-integrity salvo yet — alleging 13 crore voter deletions across 19 states through the ECI's SIR exercise, demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, and calling for a special Parliament session. With the ECI disputing claims of an internal split and Bihar and West Bengal polls on the horizon, the row threatens to escalate into a full-blown constitutional standoff.
Key Takeaways
Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged on 24 September 2026 that 13 crore voter names were deleted across 19 states via the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise since June 2025 .
Karnataka alone reportedly saw 1.43 crore voter deletions, according to the Congress leader.
Congress alleged that CEC Gyanesh Kumar centralised ECI decisions, with the other two commissioners — Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi — reportedly raising objections; the ECI denied any split.
The ECI told the Supreme Court that 38.31 lakh appeals were filed in West Bengal — 22.21 lakh for inclusion and 16.10 lakh for deletion.
Congress demanded the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar , a halt to SIR, an independent cyber-forensic audit, and a special Parliament session on ECI functioning.
Indian National Congress (INC) leader and AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Thursday, 24 September 2026, alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) has resulted in the deletion of 13 crore voter names from electoral rolls across 19 states since June 2025. Speaking in Bengaluru, Surjewala accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of 'hijacking' the poll panel and demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Key Allegations by Congress
Surjewala claimed that approximately 1.43 crore voter names had been removed in Karnataka alone, describing the scale as unprecedented. He alleged that the SIR process was being deployed selectively to target eligible voters, effectively disenfranchising citizens and undermining the democratic process.
'The Election Commission of India has been hijacked. The voter list has been taken over, and the CEC is involved,' Surjewala alleged. He said removing eligible citizens from electoral rolls amounted to depriving them of their fundamental democratic rights.
Internal Split at the ECI
Surjewala further alleged that the three-member Election Commission had been effectively centralised under CEC Gyanesh Kumar, with the other two Election Commissioners — Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi — reportedly recording objections on multiple occasions regarding decisions and communications linked to the SIR process. The ECI, however, has disputed this characterisation and maintained that all Commission decisions were unanimous.
He also alleged that control over electoral-roll databases had been concentrated, limiting the authority of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), District Election Officers (DEOs), and Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs).
West Bengal and Form 6 Concerns
Referring to West Bengal, Surjewala alleged that 16 lakh appeals had been filed seeking the deletion of voters already on the rolls. The ECI has separately told the Supreme Court that a total of 38.31 lakh appeals were filed in West Bengal — 22.21 lakh seeking inclusion and 16.10 lakh seeking deletions.
He also criticised alleged modifications to Form 6, the registration form for new voters, claiming that additional requirements had been introduced that could create obstacles for first-time voters, particularly younger citizens and members of Generation Z.
Congress Demands
The Congress leader laid out a series of demands: an immediate halt to the SIR process — especially in Karnataka; a comprehensive review of voter deletions since June 2025; restoration of statutory powers to EROs, DEOs, and CEOs; and an independent IT and cyber-forensic audit of electoral-roll databases. He also demanded the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, with criminal proceedings if violations are established, and called for a special session of Parliament to scrutinise the ECI's functioning.
Additionally, Surjewala argued that the possibility of conducting fresh elections in Bihar and West Bengal should be examined, contending that electoral mandates must rest on complete and legally valid voter lists. 'Voting rights are the foundation of democracy. When voter lists are misused, democracy itself is misused,' he said. The BJP and the ECI are yet to formally respond to the full range of allegations made on Thursday, and the matter is expected to intensify as opposition parties build political pressure ahead of upcoming state polls.
Point of View
And the ECI's counter-claim of unanimous decisions undercuts the 'internal split' framing, even if the commissioners did record dissent on procedural grounds. What is being lost in the noise is the legitimate structural question: whether centralising electoral-roll database control away from district-level officers, regardless of motive, weakens ground-level verification and erodes the safeguards built into the system over decades. That question deserves a judicial or parliamentary answer, not just a press conference.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SIR or Special Intensive Revision exercise?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an Election Commission of India process for comprehensively updating electoral rolls, which can involve additions, corrections, and deletions of voter names. Congress alleges that the current round, conducted since June 2025 across 19 states, has resulted in the removal of 13 crore voter names without adequate justification.
Why is Congress demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that CEC Gyanesh Kumar centralised ECI decision-making, sidelining the other two Election Commissioners and overseeing a voter-deletion drive that the party says targets eligible voters. He demanded Kumar's removal and criminal proceedings if violations are confirmed.
What did the ECI say about the alleged internal split?
The Election Commission of India disputed the claim that there was an internal split, stating that the Commission's decisions were unanimous. Reports had indicated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections on certain decisions related to the SIR process.
How many voter appeals were filed in West Bengal?
The ECI told the Supreme Court that 38.31 lakh appeals were filed in West Bengal — 22.21 lakh seeking inclusion in electoral rolls and 16.10 lakh seeking deletions. Congress specifically cited the 16.10 lakh deletion appeals as grounds for concern.
What are Congress's key demands regarding the SIR process?
Congress has demanded an immediate halt to the SIR exercise, particularly in Karnataka; a review of all voter deletions since June 2025; restoration of powers to Electoral Registration Officers and District Election Officers; an independent IT and cyber-forensic audit of electoral databases; removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar; and a special session of Parliament to examine ECI's functioning.
