Protests erupt across India demanding resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over voter list manipulation

Protests have erupted across India over the week demanding the resignation of the country’s election chief over alleged manipulation of voter lists.

The demonstrations have been, in part, led by the Cockroach Janata Party, who previously organised the protest at Jantar Mantar, which forced Dharmendra Pradhan to resign in July.

The latest protests are centred around the demand for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an end to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Protestors allege the revision could disenfranchise millions of voters and benefit the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party. The election commission and the Centre deny the accusations.


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Voter list changes fuelling the protests

The EC is the primary agency to determine voter eligibility and administer state elections.

The tensions that sparked the protests centred around nationwide SIR. The programme started last year in Bihar ahead of the local elections and has since expanded to the rest of the states and union territories.

Under the process, voters are required to provide documents showing they are eligible to remain on the electoral list.

The EC justified the exercise, citing the need to remove duplication and ineligible entries and to ensure legitimate voters remain registered. However, critics said that the process could exclude legitimate voters, particularly poorer and other vulnerable communities.

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They also say the requirements are complex and difficult for many people to provide, especially to those who lack older government records or other documents.

Further, the opposition accuses the EC of favouring the BJP despite being an independent constitutional body. They also allege that the SIR exercise could be more likely to support opposition parties while preserving or adding voters who favour the ruling party.

The BJP and the EC denied political motives behind the exercise and said the list is being updated to weed out what the Centre calls "infiltrators".

The issue became more urgent after the West Bengal elections, which were held earlier this year after the exercise removed around 9 million names, or roughly 12% of the electorate. The process left millions of eligible voters unable to cast ballots.

Commission rulings could be impacted by politics

The Election Commission requires a majority vote of commission members to enact changes, making disagreements among its members potentially significant.

The Indian Express newspaper reported in September that two of the three election commissioners had formally objected to several decisions involving voter list revisions, registration procedures and the commission’s digital systems.

The newspaper reported Kumar, the election chief, rejected those objections.

The Election Commission said the report reflected “differing views and deliberations” rather than formal written objections.
Protesters seek an end to changes that could reshape elections.

The Cockroach Janata Party, opposition parties and civil society have called for Gyanesh Kumar to either resign or be removed for an inquiry into his conduct, including possible criminal proceedings. They also demand a halt on the current revision and the restoration of the previous electoral lists for future elections.

The protesting parties also demand a more independent and transparent process for appointing election commissioners.
According to the EC data, voter lists in some regions could shrink by as much as 30%, thus fuelling concerns among opposition parties and protest groups over potential exclusions.

The demonstrations are likely to intensify as the changes resulting from the revision expand throughout the country, with several states holding elections early next year.

(With inputs from AP)