Gyanesh Kumar: Election Commission Faces Fresh Row Over SIR and Internal Objections

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is at the centre of a political and institutional controversy on September 23 2026 after a report by The Indian Express said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections at least fourteen times over the ten months concerning decisions linked to electoral-roll revision and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is the focus of this controversy. The Election Commission of India has rejected the characterization of these exchanges as a split or dissent, within the Commission. In its response the Election Commission of India said written notes, observations and differing views are parts of institutional deliberations and maintained that decisions taken by the full Commission during the past year were unanimous.

What is the latest controversy involving Gyanesh Kumar?

According to an investigation by the Indian Express published on September 23 Sandhu and Joshi raised problems about parts of the SIR process and how the electoral rolls are managed.

The report says their worries included:

•          Changes to Form 6 which is used for registering voters.

•          The way names are. Removed from the list of voters.

•          Control being given to the center for the voter database and software.

•          Appeals that deal with bringing voters onto the rolls.

•          Worries about how some decisions and messages were made in the Commissions name.

•          Questions about how the voter software works and is watched over.

The report says the two Election Commissioners also met with Cabinet Secretary T. V. Somanathan about problems, with how work's assigned and how the voter list software is controlled.

Election Commission says decisions were unanimous

The ECI has pushed back against the idea that the reports show a breakdown inside the three-member Commission.

In its September 23 response the Commission said that differing views and observations are a part of deliberation and that internal notes and technical suggestions are part of institutional checks and balances. I think this shows the Commission values opinions.

The ECI maintained that the ECI’s decisions over the year including those related to SIR were ultimately unanimous.

This creates two accounts of the internal exchanges. The Indian Express report describes repeated objections, by two commissioners while the ECI says the observations did not amount to dissent on the final decisions. I feel the two accounts differ significantly.

Why is SIR at the centre of the issue?

The Special Intensive Revision or SIR of rolls has become one of the most closely watched issues around the Election Commission. This process involves checking the voter lists adding names of people who're eligible to vote and removing names that officials believe should no longer be on the list.

According to an investigation by the Indian Express, over 13 crore names were removed from draft rolls across 30 states and Union Territories during the national effort described in the report. The size of this task has sparked a lot of discussion.

Disagreements within the Commission have focused on how certain parts of the revision were carried out. There are concerns, about how voter data was handled and how the software systems used for the process were managed.

Supreme Court case also adds to the focus on the Election Commission

Another significant development came from the Supreme Court on September 23.

The court delivered a split verdict on whether petitions challenging the 2023 law governing the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners should be referred to a Constitution Bench.

The matter will now go before the Chief Justice for administrative directions concerning the next stage of the case.

The issue is significant because the 2023 law changed the composition of the selection panel for Election Commissioners by replacing the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet Minister.

Political parties react

The developments have caused reactions from opposition parties.

Several opposition leaders have called for action against Gyanesh Kumar. Have raised questions about the conduct of the Election Commission. These are allegations and demands not proven findings of any wrongdoing.

For example Congress leaders have demanded Kumars removal. Other opposition parties have also asked for investigations into the reported objections and the SIR process.

The Election Commission of India continues to say that its decisions were made in accordance, with the law and following the Commission’s decision-making procedures.

What happens next?

The immediate focus is likely to remain on three areas:

1. SIR and electoral rolls: Further scrutiny of how voter deletions, additions and appeals are being processed.

2. Internal ECI records: The reported notes and objections could remain central to the public debate over how decisions were reached.

3. Supreme Court proceedings: The next legal developments concerning the 2023 appointment law could have implications for the institutional framework governing the Election Commission.

Gyanesh Kumar: Latest News in Brief

Issue	Latest development
Current position	Chief Election Commissioner of India
Latest controversy	Reported internal objections over electoral-roll processes
Commissioners mentioned	Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
Reported objections	At least 14 over 10 months
ECI response	Says final decisions were unanimous
Major issue	Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
Supreme Court	Split verdict on referral challenge to 2023 appointment law
Date	September 23, 2026

Bottom Line

The latest news about Gyanesh Kumar focuses on reported disagreements inside the Election Commission about updating the roll and SIR along with another development in the Supreme Court related to the rules for appointing Election Commissioners.

The main difference is between what's reported as internal concerns and what the Commission finally decides. The Indian Express reports that two Election Commissioners made repeated objections on issues but the ECI says these kinds of internal comments are part of normal discussions and that all final decisions were made together.

As the SIR process and the Supreme Court cases go on more official papers, court orders and statements from the Election Commission will be important, for understanding how the disputed decisions were taken.