Jaipur, October 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene amid the ongoing controversy over the Election Commission of India’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Gehlot’s remarks came after the Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre, the Election Commission and other respondents on petitions challenging alleged unilateral decision-making in matters related to the SIR exercise. The court, however, declined to pass an interim order suspending or restraining Kumar and said it would examine the allegations after receiving responses from the concerned authorities.
Gehlot said the Election Commission had historically built credibility in India and abroad, including through cooperation with other countries in election-related matters. He alleged that questions over the poll panel’s impartiality had intensified under Kumar’s leadership.
Referring to allegations raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding electoral irregularities, Gehlot said such concerns had previously been raised but, in his view, had not received adequate attention. He also criticised Kumar’s handling of questions from the Opposition during a press conference, arguing that the head of the country’s electoral body should maintain respect for all political parties.
Gehlot further referred to the Supreme Court’s observations concerning the requirement for decisions of the Election Commission to be taken unanimously or by majority. The court has indicated that if records establish that decisions were taken without the required statutory process, those decisions could subsequently be reconsidered.
In this backdrop, Gehlot said, “the only thing left now is his resignation.”
He questioned why the Prime Minister and Home Minister were not intervening and said the Centre should ensure Kumar’s resignation to bring the controversy to an end and allow both the ruling and Opposition parties to focus on their respective responsibilities.
The former Rajasthan Chief Minister also raised concerns over the ongoing SIR exercise and its implications for voters. He alleged that large numbers of names had been removed from electoral rolls and expressed particular concern over developments in West Bengal.
Gehlot said the credibility of India’s electoral system was too important to remain surrounded by controversy and questioned what message the developments were sending internationally.
He also referred to an observation made during the Supreme Court proceedings concerning voters who may be unable to vote and said that, irrespective of the context, he considered any suggestion that excluded voters could simply participate in a subsequent election to be problematic.
Gehlot stressed that every eligible citizen’s right to participate in the electoral process must be protected and said the situation had reached a critical stage.
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