‘Invisible hand running ECI’: Congress attacks Gyanesh Kumar after Express report on poll panel - The Indian Express

The Opposition has trained its guns on the Election Commission of India and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after an Indian Express report found that two out of three Election Commissioners complained about being kept in the dark, adding new voters, and deleting names.

Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, called the steps on new voters ‘unauthorised, illegal’; warned against voter database access being ‘centralised’ in Delhi, bypassing state officials.

Reacting to the findings, the Congress said: “Gyanesh is ruling like a dictator just like his boss Modi and is engaged in ‘vote theft’ to please Modi [sic].”

Terming Kumar Prime Minister Narendra “Modi’s favorite”, the principal Opposition party alleged that the complaints clearly state that both Election Commissioners – Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi – are not informed about important decisions.

“We have said this before as well – Modi has captured the Election Commission. Gyanesh Kumar is Modi’s puppet. This fact is proven by this report from the Indian Express.Modi and Gyanesh together have caused great damage to the country’s democracy,” the Congress posted on X.

▪️ शिकायत में साफ कहा गया कि दोनों चुनाव आयुक्त – सुखबीर सिंह संधू और विवेक जोशी को महत्वपूर्ण फैसलों की जानकारी नहीं दी जाती। उनसे… pic.twitter.com/uPeLz6NcZF

Congress leader Manish Tewari said the findings suggest an ‘invisible hand is running the Election Commission’.

“If the ostensible facts as reported by @IndianExpress are correct then it seems to suggest that there is an ‘invisible hand ‘ running the @ECISVEEP. If rules were not allegedly followed and decisions were taken that were not unanimous or by majority then all the decisions of @ECISVEEP are per -se arbitrary and capricious if not completely illegal. This is perhaps a fit case for serious considering an impeachment proceeding but more importantly the fundamental question is as to how will the credibility of @ECISVEEP be ever resurrected [sic],” Tewari posted on X.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut targeted Gyanesh Kumar and suggested that the CEC would go to jail. “A-Gyanesh Kumar will go to jail! He will have to go! Their masters will flee the country and run away [sic],” he posted on X.

VIDEO | Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, “They have revolted… The country is grateful to Sukhbir Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. They have torn the mask off Gyanesh Kumar before the country. They have torn the mask off the Home Ministry. The way people have been winning elections… pic.twitter.com/MLj9k5EUIY

Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram sought to underline that the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that if the decision-making process is flawed or wrong, the decision will also be flawed or wrong. “The Opposition has contended that many decisions concerning the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls were wrong. Now, it is revealed that the decision-making process was also wrong If two ECs have taken a contrary view, how could the CEC make his view the ‘decision’ of the ECI,” he asked.

“All decisions of the ECI in recent years should be reviewed by a Parliamentary Committee. Meanwhile, the SIR process should be suspended immediately all over the country,” he added.

The Express Investigation report found that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had complained on record about being kept in the dark, adding new voters, and deleting names. They said called steps on new voters ‘unauthorised and illegal’. They even warned against voter database access being ‘centralised’ in Delhi, a step which would bypass state officials.

On concerns over integrity of voter software, the dissenting Commissioners even knocked on the Cabinet Secretary’s door. This marks an unprecedented rupture inside the Election Commission and reveals a cloud over its conduct.

TMC MP Derek O’brien, calling for Kumar’s impeachment in a post on X, said, “Five months ago, 60+ Rajya Sabha MPs (50 needed) wrote to Chairman RS moving Motion to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar” “After big news break today that two Election Commissioners objected to many of CEC’s actions, it’s time to bring out the RS Motion today. Impeach CEC to save democracy”.

Following the Express report, the Trinamool Congress wrote to the Rajya Sabha Chairman demanding impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. “Five months ago, 60+ Rajya Sabha MPs (50 needed) wrote to Chairman RS moving Motion to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar. After big news break today that two Election Commissioners objected to many of CEC’s actions, it’s time to bring out the RS Motion today. Impeach CEC to save democracy,” TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien posted on X.

After big news break today that two Election Commissioners objected to many of CEC’s actions, it’s time to bring out the RS Motion today. Impeach CEC to save democracy pic.twitter.com/bQToB1djjQ

In his letter to the Rajya Sabha chairman, O’Brien wrote: “An Address be presented to the President of India praying for the removal of Shri Gyanesh Kumar from the office of Chief Election Commissioner of India on the ground of proved misbehaviour, as particularised herein in respect of his conduct on and after 15 March 2026.”

TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee, too, called for the immediate removal of the CEC and a court-monitored investigation into the matter.

The CEC must be removed immediately and a court monitored investigation ordered. Disenfranchising lakhs of voters to allegedly benefit one political party strikes at the very foundation of our democracy. Those responsible must be held accountable.

After the West Bengal… https://t.co/i5QUSr5MI0

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the investigation directly meant that “all Election Commissioners are not able to perform their rightful duties”.

“If the members of an independent body do not have the freedom to carry out just actions or if there is no hearing of theirs, then these are extremely fatal and dangerous circumstances for democracy. For some people to betray democracy by becoming puppets of those in power is a grave constitutional crime. This is nothing less than a conspiracy to wipe out democracy. Honorable Supreme Court, take suo motu cognizance,” he added.

CPM MP John Brittas, terming the Commission “a one-man autocracy under CEC Gyanesh Kumar”, he alleged “open subversion of the EC and our democracy too”, seeking the imitation of the process to impeach Kumar.

“Parliament must immediately start the process for the removal of the CEC. We had in fact submitted a notice for removal on 24 th April ,2026 as per the constitutional stipulations – solid grounds and around 70 members signing( 50 in the stipulated number).The Constitution provides this power for precisely such moments of institutional capture and subversion” he said in a post on X.

After big news break today that two Election Commissioners objected to many of CEC’s actions, it’s time to bring out the RS Motion today. Impeach CEC to save democracy pic.twitter.com/bQToB1djjQ

Calling for the annulment of the entire SIR process by the Supreme Court without delay, Brittas argued that when two of the three Commissioners put on record that the exercise is illegal and destructive of the electoral roll’s integrity, “judicial silence becomes complicity.”

“What Gyanesh Kumar is doing is the death knell of a democratic nation. #Remove the CEC. #Strike down the SIR. Or accept that free and fair elections in India are already being buried” he said.

Abhishek Chakraborty is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express in Delhi, working at the intersection of digital-first journalism, editorial decision-making, and audience engagement. He is closely involved in shaping and commissioning stories for the digital platform, with a focus on breaking news, explanatory journalism, and sharp, reader-oriented presentation. His work spans editorial planning, real-time news judgment, headline optimisation, and platform strategy, including search and social distribution. He has a strong interest in the evolution of news consumption in the digital ecosystem. He is particularly interested in how national newsrooms adapt to platform-led distribution models, data-informed editorial choices, and the balance between speed, depth, and credibility in digital-first journalism. His core interest areas are business, science, and political news. Education and interest areas: Abhishek holds a postgraduate degree in Political Science and a graduate degree in Journalism. His academic grounding informs his reportage and editing, particularly on politics, governance, and public policy. He is interested in the future of digital journalism, newsroom transformation, and the evolving relationship between technology, platforms, and public discourse. Abhishek hails from Assam's Guwahati and is proficient in English, Bengali, Assamese and Hindi. When not in the newsroom, Abhishek can be found exploring food trails around Delhi and Northeast India. In his leisure, Abhishek likes to go on long drives or bike rides, play cricket and games, and explore historical places. Work experience: Abhishek has over 12 years of experience at The Times of India, The Quint, India Today, ABP Network, and now, at The Indian Express. ... Read More

Jatin Anand is an Assistant Editor with the national political bureau of The Indian Express. With over 17 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is a seasoned expert in national governance, electoral politics, and bureaucratic affairs. Having covered high-stakes beats including the Election Commission of India (ECI), intelligence, and urban development, Jatin provides authoritative analysis of the forces shaping Indian democracy. He is an alumnus of Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU) and the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, where he specialized in Print Journalism. Expertise High-Stakes Beat Coverage: Throughout his decade-and-a-half career, Jatin has covered some of the most sensitive and influential beats in the country, including: The Election Commission of India (ECI): Monitoring electoral policy, reforms, and the conduct of national and state polls. National Security & Intelligence: Reporting on the internal mechanisms and developments within India's security apparatus. Urban Development: Analyzing the policies and bureaucratic processes driving the transformation of India’s cities. National Political Bureau: In his current role, he tracks the intersection of policy and politics, offering deep-dive reporting on the Union government and national political movements. Academic Credentials: Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU): Alumnus of one of Delhi's premier institutions. Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai: Specialized in Print Journalism at India's most prestigious journalism school. ... Read More