New Delhi [India], September 23 (ANI): Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and a court-monitored investigation, reacting to an Indian Express report which said that two Election Commissioners had raised objections multiple times over decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and electoral roll procedures.
"The CEC must be removed immediately and a court monitored investigation ordered. Disenfranchising lakhs of voters to allegedly benefit one political party strikes at the very foundation of our democracy. Those responsible must be held accountable," Banerjee said in a post on X.
"The Supreme Court cannot look away. The buck stops there. Will the CJI led Bench act?" he added.
The CEC must be removed immediately and a court monitored investigation ordered. Disenfranchising lakhs of voters to allegedly benefit one political party strikes at the very foundation of our democracy. Those responsible must be held accountable.
The Supreme Court cannot look… https://t.co/i5QUSr5MI0
Congress leader P Chidambaram also reacted to the media report, saying that if the report is correct, they would raise questions about both the decisions taken by the poll body and the decision-making process.
"The news stories in the Indian Express today, if correct, shake the foundations of the Election Commission of India (ECI). There are two separate points: 1. Decision; and 2. Decision-making process," Chidambaram said in a post on X.
"The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that if the decision-making process is flawed or wrong, the decision will also be flawed or wrong," he added.
Chidambaram said the Opposition had earlier alleged that several decisions related to SIR were wrong and said that the report indicated that the decision-making process was also questioned.
"Now, it is revealed that the decision-making process was also wrong. If two ECs have taken a contrary view, how could the CEC make his view the 'decision' of the ECI?" he asked.
He further demanded a review of the Election Commission's decisions in recent years by a Parliamentary Committee and called for suspension of the SIR process.
"All decisions of the ECI in recent years should be reviewed by a Parliamentary Committee. Meanwhile, the S.I.R. process should be suspended immediately all over the country," Chidambaram said.
The news stories in the Indian Express today, if correct, shake the foundations of the Election Commission of India (ECI)
There are two separate points:
1. Decision; and 2. Decision-making process
The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that if the decision-making process is…
The Indian Express report had said that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and orders related to the SIR process.
The Election Commission sources, however, sought to play down the report, stating that all decisions of the Election Commission of India, including those related to SIR, were taken unanimously with the approval of both Election Commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner.
Earlier, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal had also targeted CEC Gyanesh Kumar and demanded his immediate removal over the issue.
"There is no doubt remaining. Mr. Gyanesh Kumar has no right to remain in office. How the hell can one man, acting on His Master’s orders, strike off names at whim?" Venugopal had said.
He had alleged that the exercise could impact genuine voters and demanded a Supreme Court-monitored impartial investigation.
RJD MP Manoj Jha also reacted to the report, alleging that it raised questions over the functioning of the poll body.
"This story peels back the layers to reveal how a constitutional body, whose mandate is to conduct free and fair elections, conflates discretion with arbitrary caprice. Over a period of ten months, written dissent was expressed fourteen times; clarifications were sought, and attempts were made to sound warnings, yet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar brushed it all aside," Jha said.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had earlier urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter.
"This is an extremely serious news that in the past 10 months, 2 Election Commissioners have registered their objections 14 times against the Election Commission's wrong decisions," Yadav said.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien also called for bringing back a previous motion submitted by Rajya Sabha MPs seeking the removal of the CEC.
"Five months ago, 60+ Rajya Sabha MPs (50 needed) wrote to Chairman RS moving Motion to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar. After big news break today that two Election Commissioners objected to many of CEC's actions, it's time to bring out the RS Motion today," O’Brien said.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal also alleged that the CEC did not have the support of the majority among the Election Commission members, referring to the Indian Express report.
"It seems some people in this country still have a conscience... look at the kind of irregularities taking place in the Election Commission," Sibal said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also demanded action against the CEC, while DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan alleged that the BJP government was "playing a game" with the SIR process.
The controversy comes after Opposition parties had earlier moved motions seeking the removal of Gyanesh Kumar. In April 2026, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had said that 73 Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs submitted a fresh notice seeking the removal of the CEC on grounds of "proven misbehaviour".
Earlier in April, Opposition parties had moved motions seeking the removal of Gyanesh Kumar. In April 2026, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had said that 73 Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs submitted a fresh notice seeking the removal of the CEC on grounds of "proven misbehaviour".
Ramesh had said the notice was moved under Article 324(5) read with Article 124(4) of the Constitution, along with provisions of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
Earlier, a similar notice was submitted in the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla later rejected the motion after consideration, according to a Lok Sabha bulletin. The Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan also rejected the motion. (ANI)
