Revisit SIR exercise, CEC must resign: Naveen Patnaik on report of internal disquiet in poll panel
BJD president Naveen Patnaik has called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following reports of internal discord within the Election Commission. Patnaik is demanding a review of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Odisha.
Why it matters
The demand reflects ongoing political tensions regarding the integrity of electoral processes and the independence of India's constitutional bodies.
BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Friday (September 25, 2026) demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar must resign immediately and that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls must be revisited.
Election Commission row LIVE: September 25, 2026
His remarks came amid a newspaper report of differences within the three-member Election Commission over several decisions and instructions relating to electoral-roll revision, including deletion and addition of names, changes in forms for new voters, and access to voter data.
"Because of the sharp differences between election commissioners and the chief election commissioner, the CEC should immediately resign, and the whole SIR process should be thoroughly revisited," Mr. Patnaik told reporters outside the Assembly.
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