Bengaluru, September 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for the scrapping of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, seeking a fresh exercise to ensure that eligible citizens are not deprived of their right to vote.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said the right to vote was fundamental and alleged that electoral rights were being misused for political purposes.
“The right to vote is the right to live. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi have raised their voices in defence of the voting rights of the people of the country,” he said.
Shivakumar alleged that similar attempts to affect voters had taken place in West Bengal and Bihar and claimed that the process was now being extended to other states, including Karnataka. He also said he had requested the Election Commission to provide more time for the exercise.
Referring to reported differences among members of the Election Commission, the Chief Minister questioned whether decisions could be imposed when a majority of the poll panel members disagreed with an opinion.
“When a majority of the members do not agree with an opinion, a decision cannot be imposed unilaterally. It would be better if the Chief Election Commissioner voluntarily resigns on moral grounds,” he said.
Shivakumar said the SIR process should be scrapped and electoral data subjected to a fresh review.
“We are not talking about Congress votes or BJP votes. Every citizen has the right to vote, and that is the right to live. Nobody can suppress that right,” he said.
He also raised concerns over the use of Forms 6, 7 and 8 in the electoral-roll revision process, arguing that the manner in which the exercise was being conducted could particularly affect illiterate and disadvantaged sections.
“This is not merely a matter of opinion. It is a fundamental right. This is the voice of the common man,” Shivakumar said.
He called for a wider debate on the issue, including in Parliament, and opposed what he described as pressure or intimidation of officials in different states in the name of the Election Commission.
“We want a fresh SIR to be conducted. Everyone should be given their rights. The situation must be reviewed comprehensively to ensure the right to every vote, and the electoral data must be re-examined,” he said.
Shivakumar’s remarks came amid reports of differences within the Election Commission over aspects of electoral-roll procedures and the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has maintained that decisions concerning the SIR were taken unanimously with the approval of all three Election Commissioners and has said that individual views or observations expressed during deliberations do not constitute separate decisions of the Commission.
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