Congress CWC meets on SIR row; Meira Kumar demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal
Synopsis
The Congress CWC assembled on 29 September with one clear signal: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar must go. With Meira Kumar calling his removal 'extremely necessary' and the INDIA Bloc set to meet the next day on a joint Parliament notice, a routine electoral-roll revision has escalated into a full-blown constitutional standoff — even as the Election Commission insists its SIR order had unanimous approval.
Key Takeaways
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met on 29 September 2026 in New Delhi to finalise strategy on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) row.
Meira Kumar declared CEC Gyanesh Kumar 's removal 'extremely necessary'; Prakash Joshi called his actions 'treason' and said his 'place is in jail.' Senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi , Rahul Gandhi , and Mallikarjun Kharge attended the meeting.
The Election Commission says the SIR order was unanimously approved by all three commissioners and that Form 6 changes were upheld by the Supreme Court .
The INDIA Bloc is set to meet on 30 September to discuss a joint strategy, including a possible fresh Parliament notice to remove the CEC.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) convened in New Delhi on Tuesday, 29 September 2026 to chart the party's next moves on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) controversy, as former Lok Sabha Speaker and Congress leader Meira Kumar declared that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar 'will have to go.' The meeting, attended by top Congress leadership including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, marks the party's most coordinated response yet to the ongoing Election Commission row.
What Was Said at the CWC
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Meira Kumar said: 'The strategy will be formulated today during the CWC meeting, and the rest will be discussed after sitting down with our partners in the INDIA Bloc. But Gyanesh Kumar will have to go, and his removal is extremely necessary.' Her remarks signal the Congress leadership's intent to pursue the CEC's ouster beyond internal deliberations and into coordinated Opposition action.
Prakash Joshi, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for West Bengal, went further, saying: 'It is a fact that the kind of criminal acts Gyanesh Kumar was continuously committing fall under the category of treason, and not only should he face prosecution, but his place is in jail.' Joshi added that a final strategy would emerge only after the Working Committee meeting concluded.
The Core Dispute Over Electoral Rolls
At the heart of the controversy is the Election Commission's nationwide SIR order, which covers revisions to electoral rolls, changes to Form 6 for new voter enrolments, additions and deletions from voter lists, and centralised control over the electoral-roll database. Congress and other Opposition parties argue these procedural changes could disenfranchise voters and concentrate excessive administrative power within the poll panel.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has previously stated that concerns raised by two Election Commissioners had 'exposed' the functioning of the poll panel, and called for direct action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Notably, this is not the first time the Opposition has sought the removal of a sitting CEC — the escalating rhetoric reflects a deepening distrust between the Congress-led Opposition and the Election Commission.
Election Commission's Position
The Election Commission has firmly rejected Opposition concerns over its internal decision-making, maintaining that differing views are a normal part of institutional deliberations. On 26 September, the poll body stated that the nationwide SIR order had received unanimous approval from all three commissioners — CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, and Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi. It also cited a Supreme Court ruling that had upheld changes to Form 6, reinforcing the legal sanctity of its procedures.
INDIA Bloc's Next Move
The Opposition INDIA Bloc is expected to convene on Wednesday, 30 September to align on a joint strategy following the CWC deliberations. The Bloc may submit another notice in Parliament seeking the removal of the CEC, according to reports. This coordinated escalation suggests the issue will remain a major flashpoint in the lead-up to any electoral exercise, with Opposition parties demanding greater independent scrutiny of the SIR process and electoral-roll management.
Point of View
Backed by a Supreme Court nod on Form 6, materially complicates the Opposition's case. The real risk here is institutional: a sustained Opposition campaign against the CEC's legitimacy — regardless of merit — erodes public confidence in electoral machinery at precisely the moment it should be above reproach. Mainstream coverage has focused on the political heat; the structural question of whether SIR safeguards against disenfranchisement are adequate has received far less scrutiny.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Congress CWC meeting on 29 September about?
The Congress Working Committee convened on 29 September 2026 to decide the party's strategy on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) row involving the Election Commission. Senior leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge attended the meeting, which is expected to set the tone for coordinated Opposition action with the INDIA Bloc.
Why is Congress demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
Congress alleges that the Election Commission's SIR exercise — covering electoral roll revisions, Form 6 changes, and centralised database control — poses a risk of voter disenfranchisement and concentrates undue power in the poll panel. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has said that internal dissent among Election Commissioners has 'exposed' the functioning of the body, and Meira Kumar has called Kumar's removal 'extremely necessary.'
What has the Election Commission said in its defence?
The Election Commission has maintained that the SIR order received unanimous approval from all three commissioners — CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, and Vivek Joshi — on 26 September. It has also stated that changes to Form 6 were upheld by the Supreme Court, and that differing internal views are a normal part of institutional deliberations.
What is the INDIA Bloc planning next on the Election Commission row?
The Opposition INDIA Bloc is expected to meet on Wednesday, 30 September, to align on a joint strategy following the CWC deliberations. The Bloc may submit a fresh notice in Parliament seeking the removal of the CEC, according to reports.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is a nationwide electoral-roll revision exercise ordered by the Election Commission that involves updating voter lists, processing additions and deletions, and revising Form 6 for new voter enrolments. The Opposition has raised concerns that the process, along with centralised database control, could exclude eligible voters and lacks adequate independent oversight.
