SIR Row: ECI Orders ECINet Review, Extends Delhi Deadline as Gyanesh Kumar Faces Resignation

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By TRH Political Desk

The question that the poll outcome in West Bengal and Bihar could have been different if not for the SIR will still stay. While the polls already held may not be revisited, the ECI is yet to ensure that all eligible voters are part of the electoral roll without any hassles. In substance, Gyanesh Kumar still remains under scrutiny for his role in the manner in which the SIR had been held so far in the country.

New Delhi, September 26, 2026 — The full Election Commission of India meeting on Saturday decided to address issues agitating the people with course correction measures. Yet the question hangs on the functioning of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demands still persist on his accountability.

The ECI in its decisions on Saturday restored the power of the field workers to add names in the electoral roll. But the decision affects the ongoing special intensive revision of the electoral roll in Delhi and Maharashtra. Congress’ communication department chief Jairam Ramesh questioned the ECI, saying that the voters deleted from the roll in Bihar and West Bengal still have no redressal.

The ECI has asserted that its decision on Form 6 has been endorsed by the Supreme Court in May this year. But, as Ramesh asked, the apex court decision had come without the revelation that the poll body had allegedly been functioning without unanimity among the members. Unanimous decision making is the enshrined hallmark of the Election Commission.

Also, the Union government, per the Representation of the People’s Act, is empowered to make changes in the Form 6. So, how did the ECI make the changes without the approval of the Central government and by default of the sanctity of parliament.

Besides, the temporary freeze on inclusion of the young voters, Gen Z, remains an issue without a cogent explanation. At the same time, making the young voters incumbent to establish the mapping of their parents and grandparents in the 2002 SIR impinges on smooth inclusion of the new electorate. The issue still remains open.

While the decision of the ECI for a technical audit of the ECINet with the involvement of an outside expert is a belated admission of the technical glitches in adding and deleting of the voters, the poll body is still under the shadow of doubt. Reports said that the ECI software had been automatically generating notices and deletions. That risk inviting allegations of a tech-enabled disenfranchisement of the electorate.