Ram Temple Trust To Poll Body Row: A Look At Gyanesh Kumar's Journey
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is facing internal scrutiny following reports of objections from fellow commissioners regarding voter list revisions. Opposition parties have raised concerns about the transparency of the Election Commission's processes and the impartiality of Kumar's appointment.
Why it matters
The integrity of the Election Commission is central to Indian democracy, and internal discord at the top level could impact public trust in electoral outcomes.
When Gyanesh Kumar took charge as India's 26th chief election commissioner (CEC) in February 2025, his work on the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and setting up the Ram temple trust featured prominently in accounts of his career.Nineteen months later, he faces perhaps his sharpest challenge at the poll panel -- objections from both his fellow election commissioners to decisions made during the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.According to an Indian Express investigation, election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected on record at least 14 times over the last 10 months to decisions and orders they said were issued without their knowledge.
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