Gyanesh Kumar: From key govt roles to SIR row

Gyanesh Kumar, India's 26th chief election commissioner, began his tenure in February 2025 with a background filled with key roles tied to significant political events. These included overseeing the abrogation of Article 370 and the creation of the Ram Janmabhoomi trust. However, just over a year into his position, Kumar has come under increased scrutiny due to a series of objections raised by fellow Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

The objections, detailed by The Indian Express, arose during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, an ongoing effort to review and update electoral rolls across various states. Sandhu and Joshi formally objected at least 14 times over a span of 10 months, raising concerns about changes to electoral rolls, the filing of appeals, and the functioning and access controls of the Election Commission's voter database.

They specifically objected to the addition, deletion, and restoration of names on these rolls, as well as the introduction of changes to Form 6, a statutory document used for voter registration.

The ECI maintains that its decisions, including those concerning the SIR, are made unanimously, despite the formal objections from Sandhu and Joshi. Both commissioners have not publicly addressed these allegations. The growing controversy underscores the delicate balance within the three-member constitutional body, particularly as it pertains to voter registration and electoral roll management.

The SIR itself is a contentious issue, with opposition parties alleging that it could lead to the exclusion of eligible voters and accusing the Election Commission of bias towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Election Commission, however, has vehemently rejected these accusations, emphasizing the impartiality of its processes.

Kumar's tenure has also been marked by political criticism over his handling of allegations of "vote chori," or vote rigging, made by Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Kumar demanded that Gandhi substantiate his claims through a sworn declaration or face an apology, further escalating tensions between the Election Commission and the opposition.

Despite these challenges, Kumar's appointment followed a controversial legal change in the selection process of election commissioners, which replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet minister in the selection panel, leading to opposition challenges and a split Supreme Court judgment on the law's validity.