Opposition parties in India have called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid allegations of extensive manipulation of voter lists during the verification process of the country’s electorate. The controversy has intensified more than a year into Kumar’s tenure, which began in February 2025.
The allegations gained momentum following an investigative report revealing that two of Kumar’s deputies raised at least 14 formal objections over a ten-month period concerning decisions on voter rolls, registration processes, and disqualification criteria used by the Election Commission. These objections reportedly highlighted internal concerns within the commission about the handling of voters’ data.
Political analysts note that approximately 130 million names have been removed from the electoral register since the latest revision cycle started in 2025. For context, nearly 650 million Indians participated in the 2024 national election, making the scale of removals significant in relation to the electorate size.
Opposition groups have long accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of attempting to manipulate voter lists to secure electoral advantage, claims that have been renewed in the wake of the recent report. The BJP, along with several government ministers and the Election Commission, have categorically denied any wrongdoing or bias.
Gyanesh Kumar, a 62-year-old former bureaucrat and civil engineer from Uttar Pradesh who joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1988, has not publicly responded to the latest allegations. However, the Election Commission stated that “differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberation in any institution,” framing the internal objections as part of routine administrative processes.
The opposition has responded with sharp criticism. The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party has announced plans for nationwide protests on October 2, demanding Kumar’s removal and labeling him as “the biggest anti-national.” Meanwhile, the main opposition Congress party has called for criminal prosecution of Kumar, accusing him of treason.
Kumar had previously received international recognition, with former US President Donald Trump praising his enforcement of photo identification requirements for voters in India, a policy emphasized as stricter than those in the United States. This commendation briefly bolstered Kumar’s standing in parts of the media.
However, public sentiment has become increasingly hostile, especially near Kumar’s ancestral home in northern India, where graffiti branding him a traitor has appeared. Kumar’s defenders note his assertion during a 2025 press conference that the Election Commission operates impartially, treating all political entities equally, regardless of opposition or ruling status.
The unfolding dispute underscores ongoing tensions in India’s electoral management as the country approaches its next election cycle. The Election Commission and government officials continue to reject accusations of bias, while opposition parties intensify pressure for accountability and transparency.