India’s Election Commission is facing heightened scrutiny and public dissent following allegations of misconduct during a nationwide revision of the voter rolls, according to a recent investigative report. The controversy centers on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which began in 2025 and has resulted in the removal of millions of names from draft electoral lists.
The report claims that critical decisions related to the revision process were made without the approval of two of the commission’s three members, raising concerns about procedural irregularities. Under the commission’s rules, key decisions typically require either consensus or a majority vote among the three commissioners. The allegations have fueled widespread criticism from opposition parties, which argue that the cleansing of voter lists is politically motivated to favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party.
In response, the Election Commission of India (ECI), an independent constitutional body, has denied these claims, asserting that all decisions were taken unanimously and complied with legal requirements.
Public discontent has grown steadily, culminating in large-scale protests across the country. In Bengaluru, thousands of demonstrators, including supporters of the youth-led “Cockroach” movement and various student groups, rallied to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest in Bengaluru followed similar events in the national capital, New Delhi, where opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was briefly detained by police amid ongoing demonstrations.
Social media widely circulated images of Gandhi being forcibly taken into custody, further amplifying calls for Kumar’s removal. The “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), a prominent youth organization with millions of online followers, has spearheaded much of the mobilization, with plans for another major protest slated for October 7. The CJP gained national attention earlier this year when it successfully pressured the education minister to resign following irregularities exposed in examination systems.
Kumar, 62, is a former Indian Administrative Service officer who assumed office as chief of the Election Commission in February 2025. He is expected to serve until January 2029. Separately, the Kerala state government has initiated an investigation into corruption allegations linked to Kumar dating back to 2006, adding another layer to the controversy.
This dispute represents another political challenge for Prime Minister Modi, who is currently serving his third term amid ongoing tensions with opposition parties and civil society groups. The opposition has portrayed the voter list revision as an attempt to disenfranchise legitimate voters and undermine the democratic process. The government and the Election Commission have rejected these claims, maintaining that their procedures uphold the integrity of elections.
Protesters and political analysts are closely monitoring developments as demonstrations are expected to continue in the coming days, spotlighting significant concerns about electoral transparency and governance in India.