Assam CM Himanta Sarma mocks CJP's 48-hour ultimatum to CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly ridiculed the CJP's 48-hour ultimatum demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, calling it 'laughable' and constitutionally hollow. The confrontation comes as the Election Commission faces both external political pressure over its SIR exercise and reported internal disagreements — making this a rare moment where a state's top leader has stepped in to defend a central constitutional body.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on 25 September 2026 dismissed the CJP 's demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar 's resignation as 'laughable.' The CJP issued a 48-hour ultimatum on 24 September , threatening a nationwide agitation including ' Jantar Mantar 2.0 ' if its demand was not met.
Sarma stressed that the Election Commission of India functions collectively and decisions cannot be attributed to one Commissioner alone.
The CJP has also demanded that upcoming elections be frozen and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls be rolled back.
Media reports have cited objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over certain SIR-related decisions, though the ECI has said all decisions were taken unanimously.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, 25 September 2026, publicly dismissed the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)'s 48-hour ultimatum demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, calling the demand 'laughable' and asserting it carries no constitutional weight. Sarma's remarks came a day after the CJP threatened a nationwide agitation if the CEC did not step down.
What Sarma Said
Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, Chief Minister Sarma said, 'There is no point in demanding a resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar within 48 hours by the CJP. This is a laughable remark. The CJP can demand resignation of any individual like tomorrow they may ask about my resignation too. But of course, I will not respond.'
Sarma acknowledged the CJP's right to raise objections on any matter but stressed that 'seeking resignations of persons from a Constitutional post does not hold any water.' He underscored that the Election Commission of India (ECI) functions as a collective body, and that no single Commissioner can unilaterally make or reverse decisions.
The CJP's Demands and Threatened Agitation
The CJP issued its 48-hour ultimatum on Thursday, 24 September, threatening to launch a nationwide protest — including what it termed 'Jantar Mantar 2.0' — if CEC Gyanesh Kumar did not resign within the stipulated period. The organisation has alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission and specifically targeted the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. It has further demanded that upcoming elections be frozen and that the SIR process be rolled back to its earlier status.
Internal Discord at the Election Commission
The controversy is set against the backdrop of reported differences within the ECI over the SIR exercise. While the Election Commission has maintained that all decisions relating to the revision process were taken unanimously, media reports have cited objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on multiple occasions. This apparent internal friction has provided ammunition for opposition voices questioning the Commission's functioning.
Broader Context and Political Stakes
Chief Minister Sarma's intervention is notable in its timing and framing. By reiterating that the ECI operates collectively rather than under the sole direction of the CEC, Sarma effectively deflected criticism directed at Gyanesh Kumar while also delegitimising the CJP's ultimatum. This comes amid an intensifying national debate over electoral roll revisions and institutional autonomy of the Election Commission. Notably, demands of this nature — targeting constitutional appointees with public deadlines — are increasingly being deployed as political pressure tools, raising questions about the boundaries of legitimate protest.
The CJP has signalled it will proceed with nationwide protests if its demands are not met, making the next 48 hours a flashpoint for further political confrontation.
Point of View
And Sarma's 'laughable' rebuttal is calibrated to expose exactly that. What is more substantive is the question hanging beneath the surface: if Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi did raise objections to the SIR exercise, the ECI's claim of unanimity warrants independent scrutiny. Sarma's defence of the Commission's collective functioning is procedurally correct but should not be used to foreclose accountability questions about the process itself. The real story here is not the ultimatum — it is whether the SIR exercise has been conducted with the institutional integrity the Election Commission's credibility depends upon.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CJP's 48-hour ultimatum to CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) issued a 48-hour ultimatum on 24 September 2026 demanding that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign. It threatened to launch nationwide protests, including a demonstration it described as 'Jantar Mantar 2.0', if the demand was not met within the stipulated period.
Why did Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma call the demand 'laughable'?
Sarma argued that demanding the resignation of a constitutional post-holder within an arbitrary deadline carries no legal or institutional weight. He said the CJP could demand resignations of anyone — including himself — but such demands would simply go unanswered.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise undertaken by the Election Commission of India to update and clean up electoral rolls. The CJP has alleged irregularities in how the process has been conducted and is demanding it be rolled back to its earlier status.
Are there internal differences within the Election Commission over SIR?
Media reports have cited objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi regarding certain SIR-related decisions. The Election Commission, however, has maintained that all decisions were taken unanimously by the full Commission.
What has the CJP threatened if its demands are not met?
The CJP has threatened to launch a nationwide agitation, including protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, which it has described as 'Jantar Mantar 2.0'. It has also called for upcoming elections to be frozen pending the resolution of its concerns.
