Congress to discuss party’s strategy on ECI; senior leaders demand Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation

The allegations against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission of India (ECI) are serious issues, and linked to the survival of democracy in the country, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Monday (September 28, 2026), while announcing a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on the issue.Mr. Kharge has convened a meeting of the CWC on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) to discuss the “internal differences” in the ECI, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and changes to Form 6 for new voter enrolment.The meeting, the Congress president said, would also discuss the party’s demand for Mr. Kumar’s removal. “The Election Commission’s own people have exposed them,” Mr. Kharge told reporters, referring to concerns raised by two Election Commissioners over aspects of the SIR exercise.Mr. Kharge also flagged additions and deletions from electoral rolls, and what he described as centralised control over the electoral roll database.“I have called a Congress Working Committee meeting for tomorrow, where we will discuss the issue, and all the Working Committee members will give their suggestions. We are going to fight this seriously. This issue concerns the entire country, the existence of our democracy, and the survival of our country. That is why we are very serious about this issue,” the Congress leader said.The Congress has alleged that the SIR process could result in the exclusion of Gen Z voters, and has demanded Mr. Kumar’s resignation. “Gyanesh Kumar should resign. We have to take action against him, even after his resignation,” Mr. Kharge said.The CWC meeting, to be presided over by Mr. Kharge, will be attended by the party’s top leadership, including the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and general secretary (organisation) K. C. Venugopal, general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, and Randeep Surjewala, among others.“The Election Commission is compromised and the Chief Election Commissioner is acting like a dictator. Without consulting his colleagues, Election Commissioners, and taking their views, he is acting like a dictator for the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), [Prime Minister] Narendra Modi and [Union Home Minister] Amit Shah. It’s proved as it is not a Congress allegation, it’s a statement by the Election Commissioners,” Mr. Venugopal said.“Gyanesh Kumar does not have any authority to continue and without any delay, he should resign,” he added.Mr. Gandhi had been raising the issue of “vote chori” (theft) since the Haryana Assembly election in 2024, but it was then alleged that the Opposition leader was trying to destabilise democratic institutions. “Now, the two ECs appointed by the BJP government only have written a letter,” Mr. Venugopal said.The party is also expected to discuss its strategy for intensifying pressure on the government over the issue, and preparations for the upcoming elections.The Opposition INDIA (Indian National Democratic, Inclusive Alliance) bloc is scheduled to meet on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) to work out a joint strategy, and is likely to consider moving another removal notice against Mr. Kumar in Parliament.The Congress has framed its protests against the CEC around the theme of ‘vote chori’ and has taken out protest marches in several places since last week. On Monday, there were protest marches in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh to demand Mr. Kumar’s resignation.The ECI, however, has maintained that differing views and observations are part of institutional deliberations, and that its orders have full legal sanction. On Saturday (September 26, 2026), it said the SIR orders had received the unanimous consent of all three Commissioners, and that the changes to Form 6 had been upheld by the Supreme Court. It also announced additional time for filing claims, home visits by election officials, and helpdesks for people facing notices for deletion from the electoral rolls.