{
  "id": 9284565,
  "title": "Election Commission dissent sparks Opposition call for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/election-commission-dissent-sparks-opposition-call-for-cec-gyanesh",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T06:18:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/election-commission-dissent-sparks-opposition-call-for-cec-gyanesh-kumars-removal/article71498434.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Opposition parties have called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to be removed from office, following a report by Indian Express alleging major irregularities within the Election Commission of India (ECI). The expose claims that two of the three Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, raised objections at least 14 times over ten months, asserting that key decisions were being made without their knowledge. The parties argue that several of these decisions were \"unauthorized and illegal.\" The ECI denies these allegations, stating that all decisions are unanimous and approved by both the Election Commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner. The report highlights concerns over the centralization of electoral rolls, access to the digital voter database, and alleged unauthorized changes to voter registration forms. Opposition leaders, including Congress MP Manish Tewari, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and CPI(M) leader John Brittas, have urged the Parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings against CEC Kumar and the Supreme Court to annul the recently conducted electoral roll process.",
  "summary": "The parties also asked the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the report",
  "key_points": [
    "Opposition parties demand removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.",
    "Report alleges major irregularities within ECI.",
    "ECI denies unauthorized decisions."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The opposition's demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal signals a deepening rift between the Election Commission and political parties, potentially undermining the credibility of the electoral process.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Election Commission sources reject report of internal disquiet: ‘SIR, all other decisions unanimous’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/election-commission-sources-reject-report-of-internal-disquiet-sir",
        "published": "2026-09-23T04:52:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Opposition's Yisrael Beiteinu backs ban on Arab Israeli parties from 2026 election",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/oppositions-yisrael-beiteinu-backs-ban-on-arab-israeli-parties-from",
        "published": "2026-09-23T06:40:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}