SIR row: Chavan seeks probe into ECI working; Raut says government's sole agenda is to protect CEC

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Sunday (September 27, 2026) sought a probe into the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

In a post on X, Mr. Chavan alleged that Mr. Kumar was taking decisions on behalf of the poll body without consulting his colleagues and said the matter required a detailed investigation.

The Indian Express report on the functioning of the Election Commission of India is shocking and needs proper probe, the senior Congress leader said.

A row erupted over the ECI's functioning after the Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners S.S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months to decisions concerning voter registration, deletions and restoration of names and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.