Brief
Congress leader Chidambaram calls for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over SIR controversy
Senior Congress figure P Chidambaram says the chief election commissioner must step down as opposition pressure mounts over the Special Intensive Revision process.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram told ANI on October 3 that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should resign immediately, citing internal dissent and controversies surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
What happened
Chidambaram said the INDIA bloc and several civil‑society groups will continue protests until Kumar steps down. He referenced statements from chief electoral officers in Maharashtra and Karnataka and a premature retirement request from Odisha’s CEO as evidence of widespread disquiet.
What the reports add
The ANI interview, summarized by News18, includes Chidambaram’s warning that if Kumar does not resign, protests will persist and judicial scrutiny may follow. He urged state election officials to disclose any instructions they received about the SIR process, describing the revision as illegal.
What was said
"I have no doubt that Gyanesh Kumar has to resign someday or the other. It would be good for him to resign early, but if he doesn’t, the protest will continue," Chidambaram told ANI, as reported by News18.
He added, "Before other High Courts or the Supreme Court start inquiring or calling the CEOs of all states, I would urge them to speak out—what instructions they received, when they received the instructions, and how they complied… It’s obvious the SIR process is illegal."
How it came about
The demand follows earlier calls for Kumar’s resignation, including a Nagaland Congress petition on September 25 and a broader opposition campaign reported on September 27. The INDIA bloc met in Delhi on September 30 to coordinate protests, while state‑level FIRs over voter‑deletion applications were filed in Karnataka on October 2, underscoring the escalating controversy around the SIR process.
Key facts
- P Chidambaram called for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over the SIR process. (news18.com)
- Chidambaram said protests would continue until Kumar steps down. (news18.com)
- He urged state election officials to disclose instructions related to SIR. (news18.com)
Timeline
- 2026-09-25 — Nagaland Congress demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over SIR
- 2026-09-27 — Opposition pushes for removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
- 2026-09-30 — India's opposition bloc meets in Delhi on SIR protest
- 2026-10-02 — FIRs filed in Karnataka over mass voter‑deletion applications
- 2026-10-03 — P Chidambaram urges CEC resignation
Sources
- [1] news18.com — originally reported as “Wisest thing CEC can do is to resign: P Chidambaram on SIR row”
