Opposition parties on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) called for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar following an report that said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections at least 14 times over the past 10 months. 

According to the report, the two commissioners alleged that key decisions were being taken in the name of the full Election Commission without their knowledge, with some being described as “unauthorised and illegal”.

The revelations have triggered a political uproar, with opposition leaders calling for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, while Sandhu and Joshi have not publicly commented on the report. The Election Commission, however, said “differing views” are part of its decision-making process. The report comes as the poll panel undertakes a controversial nationwide revision of the electoral database.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday (September 24) alleged that elections in India were being “rigged” and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and CEC Gyanesh Kumar of acting as “deshdrohis” (traitors) by allegedly undermining voters’ rights.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party hit back at Rahul Gandhi with BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi describing him as a “master of deception” with “zero political knowledge”. At a press conference, Mr. Trivedi said Mr. Gandhi’s allegations lacked credible evidence and rejected his claim that every political leader and party faced anti-incumbency except Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, citing the Congress’ prolonged absence from power in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

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