Opposition groups are demanding the resignation or removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged widespread voter-list manipulation during a verification exercise covering about one billion voters. Kumar, 62, took charge in February 2025.

The trigger was an Indian Express report in September 2026 that his two deputies — Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi — raised at least 14 formal objections over ten months to decisions on voter rolls and digital systems. The Commission admitted the objections but said decisions were unanimous; analysts estimate about 130 million names have been struck off voter lists.

Rahul Gandhi accused the poll body of “vote chori” and demanded Kumar’s removal and arrest. Mallikarjun Kharge said 73 Rajya Sabha MPs filed a notice seeking his removal. MK Stalin, Mamata Banerjee, Uddhav Thackeray and Arvind Kejriwal also demanded his resignation, dismissal or arrest.

The CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML)-Liberation, AIFB and RSP demanded his removal and a halt to the revision exercise, announcing protests from September 26 to October 2. The BJP, government ministers and the Election Commission denied the charges, saying all orders were lawful and unanimous.