Pappu Yadav demands Gyanesh Kumar be hanged over SIR electoral rolls row
Synopsis
Purnia MP Pappu Yadav's call to hang Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR electoral rolls controversy is the sharpest escalation yet in a fast-moving crisis inside India's top poll body — coming just a day after reports of internal dissent from two Election Commissioners and a similarly incendiary statement from another Bihar politician.
Key Takeaways
Purnia MP Pappu Yadav on 25 September 2026 publicly called for CEC Gyanesh Kumar to be hanged, labelling him a 'murderer of democracy.' Yadav demanded impeachment of the CEC and an Opposition boycott of elections until Kumar resigns.
He called for cancellation of elections in Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal , citing injustice to 13 crore people .
The row follows reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi allegedly raised internal dissent over ECI decisions.
Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani made a comparably extreme statement against the CEC a day earlier.
The ECI had not issued a public response as of 25 September 2026 .
Purnia MP Pappu Yadav on Friday, 25 September called for the hanging of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, escalating the political controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The remarks, made to reporters in Patna, mark one of the most incendiary statements yet in the growing dispute over the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s recent conduct.
What Pappu Yadav Said
Speaking in unambiguous terms, Yadav declared, “Gyanesh Kumar should be hanged. He should be hanged from an electric pole so that those who steal the rights and votes of the poor, Dalits, weaker and deprived sections learn a lesson.” He further alleged that Kumar had “suffocated the Constitution” and called him “a bigger terrorist than a terrorist or extremist.”
The Purnia MP also demanded that impeachment proceedings be initiated against the CEC, and called on the Opposition to boycott all elections until Gyanesh Kumar resigns. “In every situation, the elections in Bihar, Assam and Bengal should be cancelled,” he said, adding that “they have committed an injustice against 13 crore people in Bengal, Bihar and Assam.”
The ECI Dissent Row: Background
Yadav's outburst came a day after a leading national daily reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had allegedly raised internal objections over decisions and processes adopted by the ECI in recent months. The ECI comprises three Election Commissioners, with the CEC holding the status of first among equals rather than a superior authority. Decisions are constitutionally required to be taken unanimously, as far as possible — making any internal dissent structurally significant.
Notably, this controversy is unfolding ahead of assembly elections in Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam, lending it heightened political sensitivity. Critics argue the SIR process risks disenfranchising marginalised communities through bulk deletions from voter rolls.
Political Pile-On: A Pattern of Escalation
Yadav's remarks came just a day after Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani made a similarly extreme statement, saying he would have shot CEC Gyanesh Kumar if he were permitted to get away with one murder. The sequence suggests a coordinated escalation by Opposition-aligned voices in Bihar, where the electoral stakes are particularly high.
Yadav also invoked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying, “Rahul Gandhi and I have been fighting since childhood. Everyone has the right to fight and speak, and everyone is welcome. We welcome all those who come forward against Gyanesh.” He further alleged that the CEC had the backing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Home Minister Amit Shah, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Legal and Constitutional Implications
Calling for the death penalty and a treason case against a sitting constitutional officer is legally and procedurally extraordinary. A CEC can only be removed through an impeachment-like process requiring a resolution passed by both Houses of Parliament — a mechanism that has never been invoked in India's history. Yadav's demand for an Opposition boycott of elections also raises questions under the Representation of the People Act, though no legal action has been reported as of this writing.
What Happens Next
The ECI has not issued a formal public response to the dissent reports or to Yadav's remarks as of 25 September 2026. Opposition parties are expected to mount further pressure in Parliament, while legal observers are watching whether the ECI or any party files a complaint over the inflammatory statements. With Bihar elections on the horizon, this controversy is unlikely to abate.
Point of View
If verified, is a serious institutional concern that the Opposition is now weaponising with extreme rhetoric. The danger is that the incendiary language buries the real issue — electoral roll integrity — under controversy about the statements themselves. With Bihar, Bengal, and Assam polls approaching, the absence of a clear ECI public response is itself a governance failure that is enabling exactly this kind of escalation.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Pappu Yadav say about CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
Purnia MP Pappu Yadav on 25 September 2026 called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to be hanged from an electric pole, saying he had 'suffocated the Constitution' and was a 'bigger terrorist than a terrorist.' He also demanded impeachment and an Opposition boycott of elections until Kumar resigns.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls controversy?
The SIR is an electoral roll revision process that has drawn criticism for allegedly risking the deletion of legitimate voters, particularly from marginalised communities. Reports emerged that two sitting Election Commissioners raised internal objections to how the ECI — under CEC Gyanesh Kumar — handled decisions related to the process.
Did other politicians make similar remarks against the CEC?
Yes. A day before Yadav's statement, Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani reportedly said he would have shot CEC Gyanesh Kumar if he were permitted to commit one murder. Both statements have drawn attention for their extreme nature.
Can the Chief Election Commissioner actually be removed or impeached?
A CEC can only be removed through a process requiring resolutions passed by both Houses of Parliament — similar to the impeachment of a Supreme Court judge. This mechanism has never been used in India's history, making calls for impeachment largely political rather than immediately actionable.
Which states' elections could be affected by this controversy?
Pappu Yadav called for the cancellation of assembly elections in Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam, citing the SIR controversy. These are among the most politically significant upcoming state elections, which is why the dispute over electoral roll revision carries especially high stakes.
