Election Commission Rift Denial
Election Commission denies internal rift over nationwide electoral roll revisions.
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Key Points
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The reported objections over Form 6 reportedly argued that the statutory voter-registration form could not be changed without amending the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The changes were described as “illegal” and “unauthorised,” and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu reportedly noted that they remained in place despite the objections.
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The electoral-database concerns included a demand for safeguards ensuring that only legally authorised officials could alter voter records, amid allegations that access to the database was becoming increasingly centralised.
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In Goa, a software problem reportedly prevented 97 voters whom Electoral Registration Officers had found eligible from being added to the final electoral roll.
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Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien called for Parliament to revive a removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying: “Impeach CEC to save democracy.” Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav separately urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter.
The Election Commission of India denied claims of internal rifts over its nationwide voter-roll cleanup, saying all decisions were approved unanimously by the three-member panel. Yet Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi filed at least 14 written objections over 10 months on issues ranging from voter-registration forms to database access, according to Economic Times.
The commission acknowledged the objections existed but called them routine observations, not formal dissents. Opposition leaders seized on the dispute to demand accountability—including calls to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from office and a plea for The Supreme Court to intervene.
Two Commissioners Lodged 14 Objections Over Voter Roll Changes
OneIndia reported that Sandhu and Joshi raised formal objections at least 14 times during the 10-month voter-roll cleanup. The issues covered changes to Form 6—the statutory voter-registration document—plus concerns about how voters were added or deleted across states including West Bengal and Goa.
Commission sources insisted these were observations that officials reviewed, not official dissents. Indian law permits majority decisions if the three commissioners cannot agree unanimously. Sandhu reportedly flagged that controversial Form 6 changes stayed in place despite his objections.
Database Access Fears and Form 6 Legal Questions
Election Commissioners raised concerns that Form 6 changes could not happen without amending the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Daily Hunt reported they described the changes as "illegal" and "unauthorised." The panel also demanded safeguards to limit who could alter voter records in the electoral database.
Officials worried access to voter data was becoming too centralized, with too many people able to change records. In Goa, a software glitch blocked 97 eligible voters from being added to the final roll despite Electoral Registration Officers approving them.
Opposition Demands Removal of Top Election Official
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien called for Parliament to revive a removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. "Impeach CEC to save democracy," he said. ANI News reported that CPI(M) MP John Brittas also criticized the commission over the voter-roll process and alleged internal dissent among its members.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav urged The Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance—to act on its own motion—of the matter. The controversy marks a rare public dispute within the three-member Election Commission panel.
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