DK Shivakumar Demands CEC Resignation, Calls for Fresh Voter Roll Revision

Byline: Political Bureau | Bangalore Mail

Published: September 24, 2026 | Bengaluru

BENGALURU: In a major political development, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that reported internal disagreements within the Election Commission of India (ECI) have undermined public faith in the democratic process.

Addressing media persons in Bengaluru, the Chief Minister also called for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka to be scrapped entirely and replaced with a fresh revision.

Internal Rift at the Election Commission

The Chief Minister’s sharp rebuke follows recent media reports indicating that two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had recorded formal dissents or objections at least 14 times over the last 10 months regarding institutional decision-making.

“In our democratic framework, when two of the three members on the commission express formal disagreement, it compromises the fundamental right to vote that protects every citizen,” Shivakumar stated. He emphasized that an electoral body cannot push forward unilateral decisions when internal consensus is lacking, arguing that CEC Gyanesh Kumar no longer holds the moral authority to remain in office.

Allegations over Electoral Roll Discrepancies

Shivakumar highlighted growing concerns regarding large-scale voter deletions across the state. Pointing to prior allegations raised by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding regional voter discrepancies, Shivakumar asserted that over one crore names have been removed from Karnataka’s voter lists under various pretexts.

“We are not framing this as a partisan issue regarding Congress or BJP voters. This is about safeguarding the fundamental democratic right of every Indian citizen,” Shivakumar said. “Our voter list must be thoroughly audited and finalized before any subsequent electoral steps are taken. We demand a new, transparent Special Intensive Revision to guarantee that no eligible citizen is disenfranchised.”

He further urged that the systemic challenges and decision-making mechanisms within the poll panel be tabled for an extensive debate in Parliament.