Gyanesh Kumar, India's Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), finds himself at the center of a significant controversy involving the Election Commission's internal workings and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Reports indicate a period of contention within the three-member body, particularly concerning decisions made without the full knowledge or consent of all commissioners.
Internal Dissent Over Electoral Processes
According to media reports from late September 2026, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally objected on at least 14 occasions over a ten-month period to decisions and orders they claim were issued without their awareness. These objections reportedly focused on critical aspects of the electoral process, including the SIR of voter rolls, modifications to voter registration Form 6, and the overall management and control of electoral roll data.
The SIR exercise, aimed at updating voter lists, has drawn criticism from opposition parties, notably the Congress, which alleges a lack of transparency and potential bias. Concerns have been raised that eligible voters might be excluded from the rolls, with accusations that the process could favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
CEC's Defense and Commission's Stance
Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer who assumed the role of CEC in February 2025, has publicly defended the commission's actions. He asserts that the processes are lawful and fully compliant with established Election Commission procedures. The poll body has also vehemently denied the allegations of voter exclusion and bias. Kumar notably challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to provide evidence for his claims of vote theft or issue an apology. Following initial criticisms regarding the deletion of approximately 13 crore voters, the Election Commission of India (ECI) initiated a special enrollment drive to ensure that any inadvertently excluded voters could register.
Profile of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
Born in 1964, Gyanesh Kumar has a distinguished academic and administrative background. He excelled in his early education, topping the UP Board exams in both high school (1979) and intermediate (1981). He earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur in 1985. Furthering his education, he pursued studies in Business Finance at the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI) and Environmental Economics at Harvard University's Harvard Institute for International Development. In November 2025, IIT Kanpur recognized his achievements with its Distinguished Alumni Award.
Key Government Assignments
Before his appointment as CEC in 2025, Kumar, from the Kerala cadre of the IAS, held several senior positions within both the Kerala and Union governments. His notable contributions include significant involvement in the Centre's work related to the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status. He was instrumental in drafting the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, which led to the division of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Kumar also managed responsibilities concerning these regions during the transitional period.
Additionally, Gyanesh Kumar played a role in the establishment of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Formed after the Supreme Court's November 2019 verdict on the Ayodhya title dispute, the trust was tasked with overseeing the construction and management of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, with its creation announced by the Centre in February 2020.
Family Background
Kumar comes from a family with strong ties to education and public service. His late father, Dr. Subodh Kumar, served as the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Medical Superintendent of the Uttar Pradesh Health Department. His mother, Satyavati Gupta, was involved in yoga and spirituality. His daughter, Medha Roopam, is a 2014-batch IAS officer currently serving as the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar. Her husband, Manish Bansal, is also a 2014-batch IAS officer. His other daughter, Abhishri, an IRS officer, is married to Akshay Labroo, an IAS officer. His extended family includes numerous professionals in various fields, with approximately 28 doctors reported among them.