EC dissent row LIVE: Opposition seeks CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal; CJP's Dipke to address presser

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A protestor holds a poster of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar during a protest by Indian Youth Congress (IYC) members against the CEC, in New Delhi. File | Photo Credit: PTI

O pposition parties on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) sought the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar after an Indian Express expose claimed that two of the three Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had formally recorded objections at least 14 times over the last 10 months. The two ECs said major decisions were being made in the name of the full Election Commission without their knowledge, several of which they called “unauthorised and illegal”.

Read | Dissent row: Election Commission says highlighting certain internal notes gives only one side of the picture

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has cancelled its programmes scheduled for Thursday (September 24, 2026) and said its leadership would address a press conference in Delhi on the “Hijacking of India’s Democracy” at noon.

Also read | Deep rot: On the Election Commission of India’s functioning during its SIR

The ECI responded on Wednesday (September 23, 2026), saying that all its actions have been in accordance with laws and instructions of the Commission. Highlighting specific internal notes or observations spread over the 10 months while overlooking the much larger body of approvals, decisions, instructions, and initiatives gives only “one part of the picture”, it said.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke indicated that the outfit will take up the issue of reforms in the Election Commission as a major row erupted after differences in the Election Commission with two election commissioners repeatedly dissenting over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls spilled into the open on Wednesday.

CJP to address ECI reforms and defend voting rights amid criticism of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Opposition parties on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) sought the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar after an Indian Express expose claimed that two of the three Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had formally recorded objections at least 14 times over the last 10 months. The two ECs said major decisions were being made in the name of the full Election Commission without their knowledge, several of which they called “unauthorised and illegal”.

Opposition demands removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over Election Commissioners' dissent on electoral process and alleged illegal changes.

Live news / Cockroach Janta Party / Election Commission of India / Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls

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