SIR row: Opposition seeks CEC's removal, SC scrutiny of Election Commission

Mumbai: Opposition parties on Wednesday expressed grave concern over red flags raised by two ECI commissioners over the SIR process, with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanding the sacking and jailing of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and NCP (SP) calling for an all-party meeting.

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said the Supreme Court should take suo motu cognisance and examine the Election Commission's functioning. He appealed to opposition parties to "initiate proceedings" to remove the Chief Election Commissioner.

Thackeray demanded that the last elections in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu be nullified and repolls be held in these states using ballot papers.


A political firestorm erupted after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had red-flagged multiple issues, including deletion of names, in various states during the pan-India Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' list.

In a statement, the Election Commission on Wednesday asserted that differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberation in any institution and all its orders carry full legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.

It said that not only the three Commissioners, but every officer of the Commission is fully authorised to give suggestions to the Commission to improve the electoral system.

"Gyanesh Kumar should be immediately sacked and jailed because he has murdered democracy and insulted the Constitution," Thackeray told a news conference.

He claimed that the two ECs have "revolted against Kumar" and it can be "assumed that they have removed CEC because they have the majority now". The two ECs should cancel all the wrong decisions taken by the poll body, he said.

Describing the purported dissent among Election Commissioners, the NCP (SP) termed it a "Constitutional emergency" and called for an immediate all-party meeting, saying the issue concerns the rights of every citizen and it should not be treated as a political matter.

"If the system itself is going to collapse, whom should we trust?" NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule told reporters in Delhi.

She said the matter was "very, very serious" and required an open discussion involving all political parties.

"This is not merely a political issue. It concerns the rights of every citizen of the country. It has now become a national issue," Sule said.

Asked if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should "step aside", Sule said there should be an open discussion on whether the allegations are true.

Referring to reports of dissent among Election Commissioners, NCP (SP) general secretary Mahesh Tapase said, "When such things happen, every citizen of this country must sit up and ask: who is really running our elections?"

In a statement, Tapase said that deliberately bypassing collective decision-making is not an administrative lapse, but a "hijacking of a Constitutional institution".

He demanded an "open explanation" from the Chief Election Commissioner on "why decisions were taken despite the written objections of two sitting Commissioners".

Earlier in the day, Thackeray claimed that the names of 90 lakh voters were deleted in West Bengal and 70 lakh in Tamil Nadu during SIR. Ahead of the 2024 assembly elections, 45 lakh voters were added in Maharashtra, and now objections have been raised against 40 lakh citizens on the list.

The Sena (UBT) chief alleged the poll body has been following the pattern of "stealing and killing democracy".

"They first freeze the symbol and then give a partial decision. They used it for Sena (UBT), NCP and now TMC. Shiv Sena (UBT) is an example of how decisions have been given on whims and fancies," he added.

Speaking to PTI Videos in Delhi, Prithviraj Chavan urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the media report and examine the Election Commission's functioning.

He said the apex court could summon all three Election Commissioners, call for their files, and examine how decisions had been taken in recent days.

"The Supreme Court should investigate what is happening at the Election Commission. The court can exercise its powers under Articles 32 and 142 of the Constitution," the former Maharashtra chief minister said.

He urged the Opposition to initiate proceedings for the removal of the CEC.

"The Congress party, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and all opposition parties should immediately initiate proceedings for the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner. The Constitution provides for the removal of the CEC in the same manner as a Supreme Court judge," he added.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, in a post on X, said, "Gyanesh Kumar will go to jail! He will have to go! Their masters will flee the country and run away!"

If Prime Minister Narendra Modi has even one per cent desire to save democracy, then Union Home Minister Amit Shah should be sacked from the Union cabinet, Raut told reporters in New Delhi.

"Gyanesh Kumar should also be sacked, and legal action should be taken against him. If Modi ji isn't taking action against Gyanesh Kumar, then I appeal to the President to sack the CEC," he said.

If the President doesn't do anything, then the Army chief should come forward to save democracy and the country, he stated.

The Rajya Sabha member also demanded that the judiciary take cognisance of the media report.

Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray claimed the Election Commission of India turned India into the "world's largest former democracy".

"Working as agents for one party, to finish off India's democracy, they have snatched away the voting rights of millions of Indians.

"What started with the Universal Adult Franchise (elections) when India won its Independence has now been turned into selected voter rolls by this institution. The institution itself, once impartial, is now a fraud," Thackeray alleged.