Gyanesh Kumar undermined Election Commission’s independence: Sachin Pilot
Congress leader Sachin Pilot has accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of undermining the Election Commission's independence by centralizing control over electoral roll revisions. Pilot alleges that the process is being used to selectively delete voters across several Indian states, eroding public trust in the institution.
Why it matters
Allegations of bias within a constitutional body like the Election Commission are critical to the integrity of democratic processes in India.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday (October 4, 2026) accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of undermining the independence of the Election Commission, alleging that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was being used to selectively delete voters.
Talking to reporters in Jaipur, Mr. Pilot alleged that Mr. Kumar had sidelined the other two Election Commissioners while taking decisions related to the electoral roll revision, and demanded action against him.
“India and the country function according to law. The Election Commission has three members, and decisions are taken either unanimously or by a majority. But Gyanesh Kumar sidelined the other two Election Commissioners and started the entire process on his own,” he alleged.
Mr. Pilot claimed that powers normally exercised by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) at the local level were being centralised, and alleged that names of voters were being added or deleted from Delhi.
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