India’s Election Commission (EC) has initiated a review of the software used for updating voter rolls following reports that its chief election official was questioned by colleagues over alterations that excluded millions of voters. The commission’s move comes amid accusations from opposition parties that the changes to the voter lists have been manipulated to favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to reports, two election commissioners raised concerns with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months, primarily regarding the process of revising the electoral rolls initiated last year. These concerns have sparked demands from opposition groups, including the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), calling for Kumar’s resignation. The CJP has announced plans to organize nationwide protests on October 2 if Kumar does not step down by the end of the week.

In response, the Election Commission stated that internal differences are common within institutions and emphasized that all actions taken in the review process have been lawful. To ensure compliance with electoral laws and regulations, the commission has formed a committee led by a senior election official, which also includes an independent technology expert, to assess the software involved in updating the voter rolls.

Moreover, the commission outlined changes in procedure aimed at making the verification process less burdensome for voters. Rather than routinely requiring flagged voters to appear at government offices to resolve discrepancies, local officials will now conduct in-person visits to verify information.

The ongoing review highlights growing scrutiny of the electoral process in India and tensions over the integrity of voter registration ahead of upcoming elections. The Election Commission’s actions reflect an effort to address both internal concerns and political pressure while maintaining public confidence in the country’s democratic procedures.