Priyanka Gandhi demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over SIR row
Synopsis
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and criminal prosecution — backed by K.C. Venugopal's warning of mass protests — marks the sharpest escalation yet in the opposition's assault over the SIR electoral roll exercise. With allegations of 13 crore deleted voter names in play and the Election Commission insisting all decisions were unanimous, the row is fast becoming a defining battle over the credibility of India's election machinery.
Key Takeaways
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanded the immediate resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar during her visit to Wayanad on 26 September 2026 .
She called for legal safeguards protecting the CEC to be removed and for his criminal prosecution if violations of the electoral process are established.
Priyanka alleged that approximately 13 crore names had been deleted from electoral rolls, which she described as potentially unconstitutional.
Congress general secretary K.C.
Venugopal warned of a massive protest and said the Modi government would be 'illegitimate' if democracy was threatened.
The Election Commission of India has rejected claims of an internal split, maintaining that all decisions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) were unanimous.
Reports had indicated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions over SIR-related decisions.
Congress general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday, 26 September 2026, demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, asserting that the legal protections currently afforded to the CEC must be stripped in cases of alleged illegal conduct. She was speaking to reporters during a visit to Wayanad, Kerala, with the INDIA bloc opposition coalition firmly backing her position.
What Priyanka Said
Priyanka alleged that the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls amounted to a direct assault on the Constitution and on India's democratic process. 'The immediate demand is that Kumar should resign. We are all together. The INDIA bloc is united. Whatever is going on is anti-constitutional,' she said.
She went further, stating that if it was established that the CEC had knowingly permitted violations of the electoral process, he should face criminal prosecution. She had previously alleged that the reported deletion of approximately 13 crore names from electoral rolls, if proved unlawful, would constitute a criminal act against democracy and the Constitution.
Priyanka also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was shielding both its own leadership and the CEC. 'The BJP is protecting the leadership and the CEC. The leadership has given full support to this man, the CEC,' she said.
Venugopal Escalates Attack
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal accompanied the criticism with a warning of a massive nationwide protest against the CEC. Describing Kumar in sharply critical terms, Venugopal said it was 'a matter of shame' that Kumar had served as a Kerala-cadre official. 'This is the biggest earthquake. If democracy is threatened, this government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are illegitimate,' he said.
Venugopal also trained his fire on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was present in Kerala at the time, demanding that Shah answer allegations that democracy was under threat. He questioned the Centre's silence on the matter and said the BJP-led government owed the public an explanation.
The SIR Controversy in Context
The Congress leaders' statements intensify an already escalating political confrontation over the SIR exercise. Reports had emerged that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had on several occasions raised objections to decisions relating to the SIR and electoral-roll revision procedures. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has firmly rejected suggestions of an internal split, insisting that all decisions — including those concerning the SIR — were unanimous and that differing views during internal deliberations are a normal part of the institutional process.
Notably, the ECI's position underlines a sharp divergence between the opposition's narrative and the poll body's official account. This is not the first time the SIR exercise has drawn political fire, but the demand for the CEC's criminal prosecution marks a significant escalation in tone.
What Happens Next
The Congress and the broader INDIA bloc have signalled that protests are being planned, with Venugopal warning of large-scale demonstrations against the CEC. Priyanka maintained that the integrity of the electoral roll process cannot be treated as a routine administrative dispute, insisting it goes to the heart of democratic functioning. How the Election Commission and the Centre respond to mounting opposition pressure is expected to shape the next phase of this political battle.
Point of View
The Congress is deliberately shifting this from an administrative dispute to an existential threat to democratic legitimacy. The Election Commission's insistence on unanimity is its institutional defence, but if credible evidence of dissent from Sandhu and Joshi surfaces, that defence collapses. The deeper risk is that relentless attacks on the ECI's credibility — however politically motivated — erode public trust in the poll body ahead of the next electoral cycle, regardless of who is ultimately proved right.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Priyanka Gandhi demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation?
Priyanka Gandhi has demanded the CEC's resignation over the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging it amounts to an attack on the Constitution and democratic process. She has also called for his criminal prosecution if it is established that he knowingly permitted violations of the electoral process.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to revise and update voter lists. The current controversy centres on allegations that the process led to the deletion of approximately 13 crore names from electoral rolls, which opposition leaders have called unlawful and unconstitutional. The Election Commission has defended the exercise as procedurally valid.
Has the Election Commission admitted to any internal disagreement over SIR?
No. The Election Commission of India has rejected suggestions of a split within the poll panel, maintaining that all decisions on the SIR and electoral-roll procedures were unanimous. It has said differing views during internal deliberations are a normal part of its institutional process.
What did K.C. Venugopal say about the CEC controversy?
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal warned of a massive protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and described the controversy as 'the biggest earthquake.' He said that if democracy is threatened, the Modi government would be illegitimate, and demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah, who was present in Kerala, answer the allegations.
Is the INDIA bloc united on the demand for the CEC's resignation?
Priyanka Gandhi has stated that the INDIA bloc is fully united on the issue, saying 'we are all together' in demanding the CEC's resignation. The bloc has signalled plans for organised protests, with Venugopal warning of large-scale demonstrations in the days ahead.
