Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on Thursday, 24 September 2026, demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for an independent investigation into the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI), citing reports of internal dissent within the three-member constitutional body. The demand, made from Bengaluru, marks one of the most direct political attacks on the poll panel's current leadership.

The Internal Objections at the Heart of the Controversy

According to media reports, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to decisions and communications they said were issued without their knowledge or approval. The reported objections covered voter registration, deletion and restoration of names, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, changes to Form 6 — the statutory form used for new voter registration — and access to the electoral-roll database.

According to the reported internal records, the two Commissioners raised concerns that changes to Form 6 could not be made without amendments to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. One objection reportedly described the change as ‘unauthorised and illegal.’ Parameshwara also alleged that control over the electoral-roll database had been centralised, bypassing statutory officials at the state level.

What Parameshwara Said

“Has a three-member constitutional body been reduced to the will of one individual — Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar?” Parameshwara asked. He underscored that the Chief Election Commissioner is ‘first among equals, not above the Commission,’ and argued that decisions affecting the electoral process must follow the principle of collective decision-making.

“I strongly condemn the manner in which CEC Gyanesh Kumar has functioned in the face of these serious revelations,” the Deputy Chief Minister said. He demanded Kumar’s removal while the allegations are examined through what he described as an independent and impartial investigation. “India’s elections and the faith of every voter in our democracy demand nothing less,” he added.

Karnataka’s SIR Exercise and Electoral Roll Concerns

Parameshwara drew specific attention to the ongoing SIR exercise in Karnataka, pointing to approximately 1.08 crore voters flagged under the Absent, Shifted, Duplicate, Dead, and Others (ASDDO) categories in the state’s draft electoral rolls, including 46.88 lakh in Bengaluru alone. He also referenced around 43.8 lakh voters who reportedly faced notices over ‘logical discrepancies’ or lack of mapping. These figures, he noted, were reported by the Election Commission itself during the Karnataka SIR exercise.

He said the developments added weight to concerns previously raised by Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, over electoral rolls, voter turnout data, and alleged irregularities across different states. This is not the first time the SIR process has drawn scrutiny; similar concerns over large-scale voter deletions have been flagged in other states this year.

ECI Pushback: Commission Denies Internal Rift

Election Commission officials have rejected reports of any internal rift, asserting that all decisions taken by the Commission — including those relating to the SIR — had the approval of all three Election Commissioners. The clarification came directly in response to the reports about the 14 objections by Sandhu and Joshi. The Commission has not, as yet, issued a point-by-point rebuttal of the specific objections cited in the media reports.

What Happens Next

Parameshwara’s statement is expected to intensify pressure from the opposition on the ECI’s leadership ahead of upcoming state assembly elections. With the Congress raising questions about the integrity of electoral rolls at both the national and state levels, the demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s removal is likely to become a recurring political flashpoint. Whether the Centre or the Supreme Court takes cognisance of the alleged procedural lapses will be closely watched in the coming weeks.