Indian Express Expose of the functioning of ECI: Way Forward

The Indian Express investigation (published around 23 September 2026, primarily by Ritika Chopra) exposed significant internal dysfunction and unilateral decision-making within the Election Commission of India (ECI) during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. It revealed that two of the three Election Commissioners—Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi—formally objected on record at least 14 times over 10 months (October 2025–August 2026) to decisions taken in the ECI’s name, often without their knowledge or against their advice. Many objections were copied to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar Gupta.

This is indeed an unprecedented rupture inside the constitutional body responsible for free and fair elections. The ECI’s public response framed differing views as normal internal deliberation and claimed most decisions were unanimous, but it did not fully address the specific objections or provide detailed rebuttals to the reported documents.

Key Findings from the Investigation

The objections focused on core electoral functions:

• Unauthorised changes to Form 6 (new voter registration): A question was added requiring applicants to declare if they, their parents, or grandparents appeared in the “electoral roll of the last SIR” (from the early 2000s). Joshi had warned in May that this needed a government rule amendment; Sandhu later called it “unauthorised and illegal” and demanded its immediate removal. The change persisted. What does it mean?  Those having their parents in Bihar might not have the names of their parents in electoral rolls here. Why should there be a requirement like this since any residing anywhere has rights to be included in the voter list anywhere in India provided, his name does not appear in two states. I had received forms from Bihar, but I did not respond since my name is listed here in Delhi and I have been voting here since the year 2002 in Ashok Vihar. Deep in the remote mountain villages, there could be many who might not have been included in the voter list. Assuming that this is the case, ECI should conduct case studies of the remote villages for checking on whether all in residing in the village or hamlets ,dhanies have their names listed in the voter list. So, Gyanesh Kumar Gupta should have adhered to his job describtion instead of playing out him Jainism based hatred for people of Imam Abraham known as guru Brahmma whose grave exists in Hebron. It appears that CEC wished to exclude those whose parents name do not exist in the previous SIR. Noting the testimony of a Kerala judge in which Gyanesh Kumar Gupta is reported to be advising him for joining BJP shows him to be BJP party worker in personal life which is his choice, but that must not reflect in his functioning as CEC.
• Centralisation of the electoral roll database (ERONet / ECINet): The two Commissioners repeatedly flagged “gradual centralisation” that restricted access and discretion of statutory local officers (Electoral Registration Officers/EROs, usually district-level officials). They argued this violated the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, which make roll preparation decentralised. They proposed independent audits (e.g., by IIT experts) to certify that only authorised officers could make changes; these were not acted upon. In July, they even wrote separately to the Cabinet Secretary after an administrative order further concentrated IT oversight, calling it a legal violation, and jointly set the order aside.
• West Bengal SIR appeals: After judicial officers restored many of the ~60 lakh “logical discrepancy” cases, ~16.1 lakh appeals were filed seeking deletion of those included voters. Sandhu questioned who authorised these appeals “on behalf of the ECI,” noting that neither he, Joshi, nor the West Bengal CEO had been informed. Sandhu is perfect in questioning this. CEC should not have slept over this. When not receiving a response,  Sandhu should have resigned instead of the being part of CEC. 
• Goa case: 97 voters cleared as eligible by local EROs (after Supreme Court-directed hearings) could not be restored because the central software lacked a rollback option. Multiple emails from Goa officials went unanswered before the final roll deadline. Thus, there is a need to create this roll back option since securing voting rights for all citizens is most important.
• Broader process issues: Decisions on additions/deletions, software modules developed without full Commission briefing, and limited full-Commission meetings (none for four months at one point).

These issues compounded the SIR’s controversies (nationwide deletions exceeding 13 crore names from draft rolls in many states/UTs, with particularly severe impacts and high restoration rates on appeal in places like West Bengal).

What Should Happen (Perspectives and Demands)

The revelations have intensified scrutiny of the ECI’s institutional integrity, independence, and collective decision-making (the law requires majority decisions by the three-member body). Calls focus on accountability, transparency, and restoring public trust:

• Resignation or removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar: Strongly demanded by Opposition parties (Congress, TMC, SP, others), some editorials (e.g., The Hindu called for resignation citing “deep rot”), and civil society voices. They argue unilateral actions amount to proved misbehaviour incompatible with the office. Removal of a CEC requires a parliamentary process akin to that for a Supreme Court judge (address by both Houses on grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity under Article 324(5)). Past Opposition notices have been rejected; fresh ones are being prepared. No CEC has been removed this way historically.
• Supreme Court intervention: Calls for suo motu cognizance, a court-monitored independent investigation into the ECI’s functioning and SIR processes, review of unilateral directives, and nullification or audit of flawed deletions/additions (especially where due process or collective decision-making was bypassed). Some urge guidelines on consensus-building, recording of dissents, and software/IT governance.
• Pause or overhaul of SIR: Immediate suspension of ongoing SIR phases; review/scrapping of completed exercises where process flaws (centralisation, unauthorised Form changes, restricted ERO powers) are proven; prioritisation of inclusion over exclusion; faster resolution of pending appeals/tribunals; and independent technical audits of ECINet/ERONet.
• Institutional reforms: Restore full decentralised access for statutory EROs/CEOs; ensure all policy/IT changes go through the full Commission with proper briefings; strengthen internal oversight and external audits; greater transparency in decision records; and possibly broader reforms to the ECI’s structure/appointment processes to enhance collegiality and insulation from perceptions of executive influence.
• Parliamentary/accountability measures: Review of recent ECI decisions by a parliamentary committee; full public disclosure of the internal notes and how objections were (or were not) addressed.

Counter-views (from ECI statements and some analysts): Internal notes and differing opinions are normal checks-and-balances; highlighting selective objections ignores the broader body of unanimous decisions and reforms; SIR remains a necessary clean-up of outdated rolls. Some argue the focus should stay on evidence of actual electoral outcome manipulation rather than process disputes alone. However, we are witnessing unrest due to the reported involvement of BJP supporters in willful deletion of the names of the legitimate voters. The manipulation is evident . On the other hand, BJP is promoting Jainism in the government food menu. This was witnessed in the menu presented for the global guests on the occassion of G-20 Summit and BRICS summit.  Narendra Modi is not aware of the meaning of the word Yoga and he is just promoting his personal physical exercises while not sharing the name of the living messiah Shah Raheem al Hussaini Aga Khan V whose obedience is mandatory for entrance into heaven/jannat/swarg. Being from among the non-Brahmins, he can not be a VISHWAGURU at the seat of Imam Abraham known as guru Brahmma whose grave exists in Hebron. So, he has been engaged in delusional cognitive functioning till date. I am sharing this for exposing the play of Jainism in the functioning of Gyanesh Kumar Gupta as he is on record to have been a supporter of BJP.  

In a democracy, the ECI’s credibility depends on perceived neutrality and adherence to collective, lawful processes. The investigation documents serious internal warnings about legality, centralisation risks, and disenfranchisement of eligible voters. Addressing them through transparent inquiry, process corrections, and accountability—rather than denial—would be the most direct path to restoring trust. The ultimate test will be whether institutions (Parliament, Supreme Court, and the ECI itself) respond substantively.  We argue these institutions must respond substantively.  Mr.Gyanesh Kumar Gupta needs to be removed as soon as possible for failing in delivering justice to his position.