Rahul Gandhi Targets Gyanesh Kumar Over SIR Row (Video)

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has intensified his criticism of the Election Commission after a report said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had repeatedly raised objections to decisions concerning electoral-roll management during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Gandhi alleged that “vote chori” was a crime against the Indian people and a direct attack on the Constitution. He also accused the BJP, RSS and Election Commission of being involved, and said, “Justice will be served.” SIR Controversy: Gyanesh Kumar Faces Fresh Scrutiny as Opposition Cites 14 Objections by 2 Election Commissioners.

Rahul Gandhi Targets CEC Gyanesh Kumar Over SIR Row

Gandhi's remarks came hours after an investigation by The Indian Express reported that Sandhu and Joshi had formally objected at least 14 times over the past 10 months to decisions and orders concerning voter registration, deletion and restoration of names and electoral-roll data.

What Did the Two Election Commissioners Object To?

According to the Indian Express report, the objections by Sandhu and Joshi covered several aspects of electoral-roll management. One major issue concerned changes to Form 6, which is used by citizens seeking registration as voters. The report said a new declaration linked to the previous SIR was added to the form despite objections from both commissioners that such a change required amendments to the relevant electoral-roll rules.

The two commissioners also reportedly raised concerns over the centralisation of access to electoral-roll databases, voter deletions and restoration, and appeals involving electoral-roll decisions in West Bengal. Concerns were also raised over the handling of electoral-roll software and the role of state-level Electoral Registration Officers. The report said some of the objections were made on the ground that decisions or communications had been issued without the knowledge or approval of the two commissioners.

Election Commission Says SIR Decisions Were Unanimous

The Election Commission has rejected the suggestion that there was a division within the three-member poll panel over the SIR. EC sources told Hindustan Times that all decisions taken by the Commission, including those related to SIR, had the approval of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and both Election Commissioners, Sandhu and Joshi. LK Advani, Manish Sisodia and Kailash Gahlot Among Delhi Voters Served SIR Notices.

A similar clarification was reported by The New Indian Express, which said the ECI maintained that its decisions on the nationwide SIR were unanimous despite reports of objections raised by the two commissioners. The Election Commission's official website lists Gyanesh Kumar as the Chief Election Commissioner and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi as the two Election Commissioners.

Why the SIR Process Is at the Centre of the Dispute

The Special Intensive Revision is aimed at reviewing and updating electoral rolls. The exercise has become a major political and legal issue, particularly over the verification, deletion and restoration of voter names. The Indian Express reported that the latest internal objections relate to fundamental aspects of the electoral process, including registration of new voters, deletion of names and the management and security of electoral-roll data.

The report also highlighted concerns over the use of centralised technology in managing electoral-roll information, including questions about the extent to which local Electoral Registration Officers can make or record decisions.

Rahul Gandhi's ‘Vote Chori’ Charge

Against this backdrop, Gandhi used the phrase “vote chori” in his latest X post and linked the issue to the Constitution. His post accused the BJP, RSS and the Election Commission of having “organised” what he described as vote theft and called it an act of “treason.” These are political allegations by Gandhi and have not been established as facts by the reporting cited above.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, has maintained that its decisions, including those concerning SIR, were taken with the approval of all three members of the Commission.

Fresh Political Controversy Over ECI's Functioning

The dispute has triggered renewed political criticism of the Election Commission, with opposition leaders citing the reported objections by the two commissioners as a reason for questioning the functioning of the poll panel. The immediate issue is therefore twofold: the documented objections reportedly recorded by Sandhu and Joshi, and the Election Commission's position that the decisions ultimately taken by the poll panel, including those related to SIR, were unanimous.

The developments are likely to keep the focus on the Election Commission's internal decision-making, electoral-roll management and the implementation of the SIR process.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 23, 2026 01:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).