Gyanesh Kumar resignation letter fake, says EC amid SIR row; Opposition plans fresh move

The Election Commission has dismissed as "fake" a purported resignation letter attributed to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar that went viral on social media amid the continuing political controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The letter, addressed to President Droupadi Murmu and purportedly signed by Kumar, claimed that the CEC had decided to step down. An EC spokesperson rejected the document, saying it was fake.

The development comes as opposition parties have intensified demands for Kumar's resignation following reports of differences within the three-member poll panel over decisions and orders connected with the SIR exercise.

The Election Commission has, however, maintained that the SIR-related decisions were approved unanimously by all three commissioners.

EC says SIR orders had approval of all three commissioners

At a full Commission meeting on September 26, Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi met at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi amid the controversy over reported differences within the poll panel. The Commission subsequently issued a detailed clarification on the issues raised in reports about its functioning.

The EC said its June 24, 2025 order for carrying out the SIR of electoral rolls across all states and Union territories was issued with the unanimous approval of the three commissioners. It also said changes made to Form 6, through which names are added to electoral rolls, had been upheld by the Supreme Court.

The Commission further said that letters sent by Sandhu and Joshi to the Cabinet secretary did not concern any policy matter of the Election Commission or its IT division. According to the EC, the letters related to the functioning of an officer on deputation to the poll panel.

The Commission said work redistribution orders issued by the officer concerned were not implemented after the two commissioners' orders. It also said oversight of the IT division by the deputy election commissioner was never actually withdrawn.

The September 26 meeting was the first full Commission meeting after reports emerged that Sandhu and Joshi had raised objections to decisions linked to the SIR exercise. The EC has said that differences in views and observations are part of institutional deliberations and that its orders have legal sanction.

The Commission also announced other measures concerning the SIR process, including easier procedures for voters who receive notices over unmapped or logically discrepant records. In such cases, booth-level officers can visit voters' homes to collect documents, while hearings can be conducted online in appropriate circumstances.

Opposition prepares fresh action against CEC

The controversy has prompted opposition parties to coordinate their response, with several parties seeking Kumar's removal.

INDIA bloc parties are expected to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss the Election Commission and SIR, as well as a coordinated response to the developments. Sources said opposition parties have been in contact over the issue.

The Congress Working Committee is scheduled to meet on September 29 to discuss the party's strategy on the issue and its demand for action against Kumar. The meeting is expected to be chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, with senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal likely to attend.

Opposition parties are also preparing a fresh removal notice against Kumar, which is expected to be submitted in both Houses of Parliament after legal vetting. According to reports, this would be the third such attempt by the Opposition.

The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have separately demanded Kumar's removal and called for the SIR exercise to be halted. The developments have also brought the Trinamool Congress and CPI(M), political rivals in West Bengal, into coordination over concerns about the Election Commission, according to reports.

The latest mobilisation follows reports that Sandhu and Joshi had raised objections on several occasions over decisions and orders concerning the SIR. The Election Commission's response has been that the relevant orders were approved by the full Commission and that the reported differences did not amount to a withdrawal of authority from any division.

The viral resignation letter has added another layer to the dispute, but the Election Commission has categorically said that Kumar has not submitted the resignation purportedly contained in the document.