Murli Manohar Joshi on ECI row: SC must act if Constitution violated
Synopsis
A senior BJP leader breaking ranks — even gently — is the real story here. Murli Manohar Joshi's call for Supreme Court scrutiny of any constitutional violation in the ECI row signals that disquiet over the voter-deletion controversy is not confined to the Opposition, adding fresh pressure to an already volatile electoral integrity debate.
Key Takeaways
Murli Manohar Joshi , veteran BJP leader, said on 8 October 2026 that the Supreme Court must intervene if the Constitution is violated in electoral processes.
His remarks came amid Opposition demands for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged deletion of genuine voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
Joshi stressed that the Opposition plays a legitimate and necessary role in a democracy and must be heard.
On the New Education Policy (NEP) , he said it was too early to assess its impact as the policy is still in its early stages.
On student protests, Joshi said the government must listen to legitimate student demands with 'sympathy' and called the use of batons 'not appropriate.'
Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Thursday, 8 October 2026, said that free and fair elections are the bedrock of a functioning democracy and that the Supreme Court must step in if the Constitution is violated. His remarks came amid the intensifying political controversy surrounding the Election Commission of India (ECI) and calls for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Joshi made the statement while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 21st FICCI Higher Education Summit 2026 in New Delhi, underlining that accountability in electoral administration was non-negotiable in a representative system.
What Joshi Said on the ECI Row
Asked about the Opposition's demand that CEC Gyanesh Kumar resign over allegations that genuine voters were being removed from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, Joshi invoked the foundational principle of democratic governance.
'Government of the people, for the people and by the people, shall not perish from the earth, provided the elections are fair, the governments are accountable, and the bureaucracy is transparent,' he said, quoting Abraham Lincoln's formulation.
The former Union minister went further, saying the Opposition plays an indispensable role in a healthy democracy. 'The Opposition is responsive and responsible, and has a clear-cut alternative programme. The whole thing is to be done under the ambit of the Constitution, and if the Constitution is violated, then the Supreme Court should look into it. That is the principle on which democracy should work,' Joshi said.
The ECI Controversy in Context
The political row over the Election Commission has sharpened in recent weeks, with Opposition parties alleging that the SIR process — meant to update voter rolls — has resulted in the deletion of legitimate voter names, particularly in states with upcoming elections. The ECI and the ruling establishment have defended the revision exercise as a routine and necessary exercise in electoral hygiene. Critics argue, however, that the scale and pattern of deletions raise serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral roll.
Notably, Joshi's remarks carry particular weight because he is a senior BJP figure — making his implicit endorsement of Supreme Court scrutiny a significant departure from the party's mainstream position of defending the Commission.
On the New Education Policy
Joshi, a former Education Minister and one of the architects of education reform discourse in India, was also asked about the New Education Policy (NEP) and its impact on students. He urged patience, saying the policy had not been in force long enough for a definitive assessment.
'As the new education policy hasn't been in place for long, this is still under consideration. It's still underway, so what can we say about it at this stage? This is just the beginning. Its consequences will be known later,' he said.
On Student Protests and Use of Force
Turning to the issue of student protests — a recurring flashpoint across Indian campuses in recent years — Joshi called on the government to engage with student grievances with sensitivity rather than resorting to force.
'The legitimate demands of students should always be heard and should be heard with a great deal of sympathy. The method of using batons is not appropriate. You can never find a solution this way. If there are problems, listen to them. They are our children,' he said.
His remarks reflect a broader concern that administrative heavy-handedness in dealing with campus unrest can deepen alienation rather than resolve it. As the ECI row continues to unfold, all eyes will be on whether the Supreme Court takes up the matter suo motu or in response to a formal petition.
Point of View
It is a crack in the facade. The ECI's SIR process has attracted Opposition fire for weeks, but a critique from within the ruling party's old guard elevates the controversy to a different register. The Supreme Court has historically been cautious about wading into electoral administration mid-cycle, but sustained political pressure from across the aisle could change the calculus. What mainstream coverage is missing: Joshi's remarks on student protests and batons are equally pointed — a quiet rebuke of law-enforcement responses to campus unrest that deserve as much scrutiny as the ECI row itself.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Murli Manohar Joshi say about the Election Commission row?
Joshi said that free and fair elections are fundamental to democracy and that if the Constitution is violated in the electoral process, the Supreme Court must take cognisance. He made the remarks on 8 October 2026 on the sidelines of the FICCI Higher Education Summit in New Delhi, amid demands for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Why are Opposition parties demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation?
The Opposition has alleged that the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process has resulted in the deletion of genuine voter names from electoral rolls. They argue this raises serious concerns about electoral integrity, particularly ahead of upcoming state elections, and have called for the CEC to step down.
Why is Joshi's statement significant given he is a BJP leader?
As a veteran BJP figure, Joshi's implicit endorsement of Supreme Court scrutiny of constitutional violations in electoral administration puts him at a distance from his party's mainstream position of defending the Election Commission. It signals that concerns about the ECI row are not limited to the Opposition.
What did Joshi say about the New Education Policy?
Joshi said it was too early to assess the full impact of the New Education Policy (NEP), as it had not been in operation for a sufficiently long period. He described it as still being in its early stages and said its consequences would become clear only later.
What was Murli Manohar Joshi's stance on student protests?
Joshi said that the government must listen to the legitimate demands of students with sympathy and sensitivity. He specifically said that using batons to handle student protests was 'not appropriate' and called for dialogue instead of force.
