Opposition INDIA bloc leaders gathered at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on Wednesday, September 30, to discuss a coordinated response to the controversy surrounding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The meeting comes a day after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) demanded Kumar’s removal, accusing him of acting in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Opposition parties are expected to discuss a wider campaign, including public protests and rallies, as well as a possible motion seeking his removal in Parliament.
Add informalnewz.com as a Preferred Source
Government and Election Commission sources, however, have rejected the Opposition’s criticism. They have defended the SIR exercise as a lawful voter-list revision process and argued that the focus should remain on ensuring that eligible voters are included in the electoral rolls.
Also Read | US Forces Leave Iraq Amid Fears of ISIS Resurgence and Security Vacuum
More Than 20 Parties Expected at Constitution Club Meeting
Representatives of more than 20 political parties were expected to attend the meeting, which was called to coordinate the Opposition’s response to the Election Commission controversy.
The Congress was represented by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The Samajwadi Party nominated MPs Harendra Malik and Maulana Mohibbullah Nadvi.
The party’s decision to send representatives followed speculation about the absence of its chief, Akhilesh Yadav. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party clarified that Yadav was occupied with the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha elections and would be represented by the two MPs.
Other leaders expected at the meeting included Trinamool Congress leaders Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT), Supriya Sule of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby, CPI leader D. Raja, CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya and Independent MP Kapil Sibal were also among those named in the list of expected participants.
The meeting follows several days of discussions among opposition parties over the SIR process and the functioning of the poll panel. <Cite refs={[“turn381431search5″,”turn381431search7”]} />
Congress CWC Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Removal
The INDIA bloc meeting was preceded by a Congress Working Committee meeting on Tuesday, where the party demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Kharge accused the Modi government of weakening democratic institutions over the past 12 years. He also alleged that names were being removed from voter lists through deliberate actions and described the CEC as a “puppet” of the government.
These are the Congress president’s allegations and have been rejected by government and Election Commission sources.
Kharge said the issue was particularly important ahead of elections in five states in 2027. He argued that every eligible citizen’s right to vote must be protected and that public confidence in the electoral process depends on fair and transparent elections.
Kharge Lists Five Demands on Electoral Rolls
During the CWC meeting, Kharge outlined five demands relating to the revision of electoral rolls and the handling of voter data.
The Congress called for:
Also Read | US Forces Leave Iraq Amid Fears of ISIS Resurgence and Security Vacuum
- Public disclosure of electoral-roll changes: Data relating to additions, deletions and other changes should be made available.
- An appeal process for deleted voters: People whose names have been removed should receive an opportunity to challenge the decision.
- Timely access for political parties: Parties should receive electoral rolls in a simple and usable format well before elections.
- An independent investigation: Serious anomalies should be examined through a time-bound and independent probe.
- Greater transparency: The poll process should be made sufficiently open so that voters and political parties do not feel information is being withheld.
The demands form part of the Congress’s broader criticism of the SIR exercise and the Election Commission’s handling of electoral-roll changes.
Opposition Weighs Nationwide Protests and Parliamentary Action
The INDIA bloc is expected to discuss a common plan for taking its campaign beyond Parliament and party meetings.
The proposed measures include public rallies and protests against the Chief Election Commissioner in different parts of the country. Opposition parties are also considering moving a motion in Parliament seeking Kumar’s removal.
The possibility of a fresh removal notice has been part of discussions among opposition parties in recent days. Reports before the meeting said the parties were considering coordinating parliamentary action and mobilising MPs in support of a notice.
The meeting is intended to bring different opposition parties onto a common platform on the issue. However, the final details of any nationwide programme or parliamentary move would depend on the decisions taken by the participating parties.
Government and Poll Panel Sources Defend SIR
Government and Election Commission sources have rejected the Opposition’s criticism of Gyanesh Kumar, describing the attacks as targeted and unwarranted.
Their position is that the Special Intensive Revision is a lawful and established process for updating electoral rolls. They have also argued that the exercise should be assessed on whether it correctly identifies eligible voters, rather than through personal criticism of the Chief Election Commissioner.
According to these sources, the stated purpose of SIR is to identify entries relating to deceased, duplicate, fake or shifted voters while ensuring that eligible citizens remain on the rolls.
The sources have also challenged the Opposition’s demand to restore around 11 crore voters, arguing that reinstating names without completing the required verification would undermine the purpose of the exercise.
The competing positions place the accuracy and transparency of electoral-roll revision at the centre of the dispute. The Opposition has called for greater disclosure and appeal rights, while the government and poll panel sources maintain that the process is legally grounded and aimed at improving the voter list.
Also Read | US Forces Leave Iraq Amid Fears of ISIS Resurgence and Security Vacuum
SIR Controversy Puts Election Commission Under Scrutiny
The dispute has intensified amid reports of differences within the Election Commission over aspects of the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has maintained that differing views during institutional deliberations do not, by themselves, invalidate its decisions, and has defended the legal basis of its orders.
The controversy has developed into a wider political debate over the independence of the poll panel, the handling of voter-list changes and the safeguards available to citizens whose names are removed.
For the Opposition, the immediate demands include action against Kumar and a coordinated campaign over the SIR process. For the government and Election Commission sources, the central issue is whether the revision is being carried out according to established procedures and whether eligible voters are protected.
The INDIA bloc meeting is expected to shape how opposition parties pursue these demands in the coming days. Any proposed parliamentary motion, nationwide protest schedule or further action will need to be confirmed by the parties involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did the INDIA bloc meet on September 30, 2026?
The Opposition alliance met in New Delhi to discuss a coordinated response to the controversy surrounding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
2. What is the Opposition demanding from CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
The Congress and other opposition parties have called for Kumar’s removal. They have also raised concerns about voter-list changes and demanded greater transparency in the SIR process.
3. What five demands did Mallikarjun Kharge raise?
Kharge called for public disclosure of electoral-roll changes, an appeal opportunity for voters whose names are deleted, timely access to rolls for political parties, an independent probe into serious anomalies and greater transparency in the poll process.
4. What is the government’s response to the SIR criticism?
Government and Election Commission sources have defended SIR as a lawful voter-list revision exercise. They say its purpose is to identify deceased, duplicate, fake and shifted entries while retaining eligible voters.
5. Is the INDIA bloc planning nationwide protests?
The bloc is expected to discuss public rallies and protests across the country as part of a wider campaign against the CEC and the SIR process. The final programme should be confirmed by the participating parties.
6. Is the Opposition planning a motion against the CEC?
Opposition parties are considering parliamentary action seeking Gyanesh Kumar’s removal. Reports ahead of the meeting said a fresh notice was under discussion, but the final decision and details require confirmation.
Also Read | US Forces Leave Iraq Amid Fears of ISIS Resurgence and Security Vacuum
