On 4 October 2026, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar is undermining the independence of the Election Commission (EC). Pilot said the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is being used to delete voters selectively.
Key Developments
- Pilot claimed that CEC Gyanesh Kumar sidelined the other two Election Commissioners and acted unilaterally.
- He alleged that powers normally exercised by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) were being centralized, leading to arbitrary additions and deletions of names, especially in Delhi.
- According to Pilot, about 13 crore voter names have been removed nationwide, with targeted deletions in Haryana, Bihar and West Bengal.
- Pilot linked the alleged roll‑cleaning to a broader loss of public confidence in the EC, calling it "votebandi" and comparing it to the demonetisation episode.
- He also criticised the Rajasthan state government for poor drought preparedness and accused the BJP of focusing on elections rather than relief measures.
- Additional accusations were made against the AAP government in Punjab for worsening drug abuse and misuse of police.
Important Facts
The Congress leader, who is also the AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab, demanded immediate action against the CEC. He highlighted that the EC’s decisions should be taken either unanimously or by majority, as per the constitutional framework.
Pilot warned that if voting rights are curtailed, the democratic fabric of the country could be damaged. He also pointed out that the Rajasthan Congress has issued a show‑cause notice to former minister Vishvendra Singh for alleged indiscipline.
Exam Relevance
- Understanding the constitutional status and functioning of the