CPI, CPI-M protest at ECI over SIR, demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar's ouster
Synopsis
Left parties took their anti-SIR campaign to the Election Commission's doorstep on Tuesday, with CPI-M's Brinda Karat alleging 13 crore names had been purged from voter rolls and calling conditions 'worse than the British era.' With Congress demanding the CEC's head, internal ECI discord reported on at least 14 decisions, and the Supreme Court set to hear a challenge next week, the SIR controversy has become a full-blown constitutional crisis.
Key Takeaways
CPI and CPI-M members protested outside the ECI office in New Delhi on 29 September 2026 , demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar .
CPI-M leader Brinda Karat alleged nearly 13 crore citizens had been removed from the voter list under the SIR exercise.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called for the immediate removal of the CEC and demanded PM Modi's resignation on moral grounds.
Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly raised objections on at least 14 occasions over SIR-related decisions in the past 10 months , according to reports.
The Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to hear a petition challenging the CEC's functioning and the legality of the SIR next week .
The ECI has maintained all decisions were taken lawfully and described internal differences as part of deliberative process.
Members of Left parties, including the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), staged a demonstration outside the Election Commission of India (ECI) office in New Delhi on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The protest is part of a widening Opposition mobilisation that has drawn in Congress, civil society groups, and now a Supreme Court petition scheduled for hearing next week.
What the Left Parties Said
CPI-M leader Brinda Karat alleged that nearly 13 crore citizens had been struck off the voter list under the SIR exercise. 'Right now, almost 13 crore citizens of our country have been removed from the voter list. The situation made right now is worse than during the British era,' she said. CPI-M General Secretary M.A. Baby went further, declaring: 'Gyanesh Kumar cannot continue; we will not allow him to continue.'
Congress Escalates Pressure on the CEC
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on the same day, demanded the immediate removal of Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged irregularities in the SIR. Kharge also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign on moral grounds over what the party described as undue pressure on the poll panel chief. The Congress signalled it would take the campaign to the streets and to Parliament. This follows nationwide Congress-led protests on 25 September 2026, at which civil society organisations held parallel demonstrations in Delhi and several states.
Internal Rifts Within the ECI
The controversy deepened after a leading national daily reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had reportedly raised objections on at least 14 occasions over decisions and orders related to the SIR during the past 10 months. According to the report, the two commissioners alleged that certain decisions were taken without their knowledge or recommendation — a charge that, if accurate, would point to serious procedural lapses at the apex electoral body. The ECI, however, has maintained that all SIR-related decisions were taken in accordance with the law and has characterised the differences as part of its internal deliberations.
Supreme Court to Hear Challenge Next Week
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to list, for hearing next week, a petition challenging the functioning of the CEC and questioning the legality of the nationwide SIR. The judicial intervention adds a new dimension to what has so far been a political and street-level campaign, potentially subjecting the SIR's legal basis to independent scrutiny. Notably, the court's decision to take up the matter signals that constitutional questions around the revision exercise are now formally in play.
What Comes Next
With the Supreme Court set to hear the petition, the Opposition ramping up its parliamentary strategy, and internal discord at the ECI now publicly acknowledged, the SIR controversy shows no signs of abating. The outcome of next week's hearing could determine whether the revision exercise continues in its current form or is subject to fresh safeguards.
Point of View
If verified independently, would represent one of the largest single contractions of the franchise in democratic history. What is missing from the public discourse is hard, disaggregated data: which states, which constituencies, and which demographic categories account for the deletions. Until the ECI publishes that breakdown, both the scale of the damage and the intent behind it remain contested. The Supreme Court hearing next week may force that transparency — or expose the limits of judicial oversight over the electoral body.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are CPI and CPI-M protesting outside the ECI office?
The Left parties are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has led to the removal of nearly 13 crore citizens from the voter list. They have described the situation as worse than the conditions under British rule.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is a nationwide exercise by the Election Commission of India to update and revise voter lists. It has become deeply controversial after Opposition parties and civil society groups alleged that the process has resulted in the large-scale deletion of eligible voters, raising concerns about the integrity of future elections.
What has Congress demanded over the SIR controversy?
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has demanded the immediate removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged irregularities in the SIR. He also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign on moral grounds, alleging pressure on the poll panel chief. The party has vowed to intensify the campaign on the streets and in Parliament.
What did the Supreme Court decide on 29 September regarding the SIR?
The Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to hear next week a petition challenging the functioning of the Chief Election Commissioner and questioning the legality of the nationwide SIR exercise. The court's decision to take up the matter adds judicial scrutiny to what has so far been a political confrontation.
What internal discord has been reported within the Election Commission?
According to reports citing a leading national daily, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly raised objections on at least 14 occasions over SIR-related decisions during the past 10 months. The two commissioners allegedly claimed some decisions were taken without their knowledge or recommendation. The ECI has denied any procedural impropriety, calling the differences part of its internal deliberations.
