CJP gives CEC Gyanesh Kumar 48-hour resignation deadline over SIR, threatens nationwide protest

PTC Web Desk:  The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has given Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar 48 hours to resign, accusing the Election Commission of undermining voters’ rights through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

CJP founder Abhijit Dipke made the announcement at a press conference in Delhi on Thursday. He said the party would launch protests across the country if Kumar did not step down within the deadline. The party also plans to hold a demonstration in Delhi, he said.

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Dipke made several serious allegations against the Election Commission and its handling of the voter-list revision exercise. He claimed that more than 13 crore names had been deleted through the SIR process and alleged that the exercise was depriving people of their right to vote.

He also accused the Chief Election Commissioner of weakening the electoral process. According to Dipke, the basic principle of democracy is that citizens should have the right to choose their government. He alleged that the election process under the present leadership was instead determining who would be allowed to vote.

The CJP founder further questioned whether the SIR exercise could have wider political implications. Referring to several opposition leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, NCP leaders, MK Stalin, Pinarayi Vijayan, Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee, he alleged that strong regional political figures had been weakened one after another.

Dipke linked these developments to the 2024 Lok Sabha election, pointing out that the BJP won 240 seats and did not secure a majority on its own despite its earlier “400 paar” campaign slogan. He suggested that the rise of regional parties and opposition unity after the election could be behind subsequent political developments.

How the controversy started

The controversy comes days after an Indian Express report raised questions about disagreements within the Election Commission over decisions connected with SIR and voter records.

According to the September 23 report, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded written objections to at least 14 decisions between October 28, 2025, and August 14, 2026. The objections reportedly covered issues related to electoral rolls, Form-6, new voter registrations and voter databases. Copies of the objections were also sent to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, according to the report.

The Election Commission subsequently issued an eight-point response to the report on X. It said differences of opinion, suggestions and comments are a normal part of decision-making in a multi-member institution. According to the Commission, discussions take place before a decision is finalised.

The EC also said that changes to voter lists at the state and district levels are handled by designated officials, including Electoral Registration Officers and District Election Officers, under the prescribed procedure.

On concerns regarding centralised voter data, the Commission said digital systems such as ECINet operate with security protocols, IT checks, audits and safeguards intended to prevent unauthorised changes.

The Commission did not specifically respond to two claims mentioned in the report. One concerned objections over the addition of an SIR-related question to Form-6 for new voters. Another involved 97 voters in Goa whose names were reportedly removed during SIR and could not be restored because the relevant option was unavailable in ECINet.

The Election Commission also said that focusing on selected developments from the past 10 months could present an incomplete picture. It highlighted several electoral initiatives and reforms undertaken during the period and pointed to election-related work carried out in Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam and West Bengal.

The SIR exercise has now covered several states and Union Territories in its first two phases. The Election Commission has also announced a third phase covering 16 states and three Union Territories, including Delhi and Maharashtra.

The third phase is scheduled to run from May 30 to December 23, with voter verification covering around 36.73 crore electors. The exercise is particularly significant in states such as Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur, which have Assembly elections scheduled next year.