Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of facilitating “Vote Chori” by withholding searchable electoral rolls from political parties for eight years. He has called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the immediate suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
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He also referred to a recent ECI order, saying, “On Oct 15, 2026, the ECI issued an order that electoral rolls will be provided in searchable format to political parties for the Special Summary Revision (SSR) – resumed after a gap of two years in 17 states and UTs. This is because the whole nation is on the streets against the Vote Chors.”
Earlier, on October 14, the ECI directed 17 States and Union Territories to undertake a Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls, setting January 1, 2027, as the qualifying date for voter registration.
Ramesh further alleged that when “Vote Chori” incidents are exposed, the Modi government employs new tactics such as restricting access to readable voter rolls, adding fake voters, and implementing the SIR. He accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of acting under the instructions of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.
He added, “Every time Vote Chori is caught, the Modi Govt adopts a new tactic: stopping readable voter rolls, fake voter additions, SIR. But not this time. Nothing can save the CEC Gyanesh Kumar, who, acting on the instructions of the PM and the HM, has destroyed public trust and confidence in the ECI. He simply has to go. But that alone will not be enough. The ECI itself, along with its IT system, has The SIR, which has put the Constitutional right to vote for over 13 crore Indians at risk, has to be suspended forthwith.”