A democracy's credibility rests on the independence of the body that runs its elections — and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has now taken direct aim at that body's top official. On Thursday, 24 September 2026, Siddaramaiah posted a sharp public demand on X, calling for the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and urging the President of India to direct a formal investigation against him.

14 Objections in 10 Months — the Dissent Trail Inside Nirvachan Sadan

The most striking factual claim in Siddaramaiah's post concerns not the CEC himself, but the two Election Commissioners sitting alongside him. He alleges that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have filed written objections to the Commission's decisions and actions at least 14 times in the last 10 months. If accurate, it would represent an extraordinary level of internal dissent within a three-member constitutional body that is ordinarily expected to operate by consensus. The research block flags this specific count as unverified, and NationPress has not independently confirmed it.

Siddaramaiah's Kannada post frames this as evidence of what he calls sarvadhikari nade — 'authoritarian conduct' — by the CEC. 'Free, impartial, and transparent elections cannot be conducted in this country by officers like Gyanesh Kumar,' he wrote, adding that the CEC's conduct has caused 'damage to the constitutional right to vote.'

The Presidential Appeal and What It Would Require

The demand Siddaramaiah has placed before the President of India is constitutionally significant. The Chief Election Commissioner enjoys security of tenure comparable to a Supreme Court judge — removal requires an address by both Houses of Parliament, not a simple executive order. A presidential direction to investigate would itself be constitutionally novel territory, making the demand politically charged but procedurally complex.

Siddaramaiah noted that the matter has been covered in today's newspapers — his post was accompanied by four images, likely clippings or documents related to the controversy. His intervention signals that the Congress party intends to press this issue publicly and persistently.

Congress's Escalating Scrutiny of the Election Commission

This is not an isolated salvo. The Congress has consistently questioned the Election Commission's autonomy and internal functioning over recent electoral cycles. State-level leaders amplifying these concerns — especially a sitting Chief Minister — raises the political decibel well beyond routine opposition rhetoric. The pattern suggests a coordinated effort to put the Commission's institutional credibility under public and constitutional scrutiny ahead of future election cycles.

Whether the President acts, Parliament moves, or the courts take notice will now define whether this remains a political statement or becomes a constitutional moment.