A major political storm has erupted over the conduct of the West Bengal Assembly elections as the Indian National Congress mounted an aggressive offensive against the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging large-scale manipulation, institutional rigging, and covert electoral subversion. Citing recent media revelations regarding the contentious Special Intensive Review (SIR) exercise across West Bengal, Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, demanded complete accountability from Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The blistering political assault follows sharp judicial observations from the Supreme Court concerning unilateral modifications to statutory voter enrollment forms alongside critical feedback from specialized judicial tribunals auditing the deletion of 27 lakh voters in the eastern state.
‘Textbook Case of Rigging’: Jairam Ramesh Alleges High-Level Electoral Subversion
Taking directly to X (formerly Twitter), senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh leveled explosive allegations against the poll body’s leadership and the central government:
Direct Attack on Poll Machinery: Ramesh stated that investigative reporting has systematically exposed an orchestrated scheme to manipulate Bengal’s electoral architecture, posting: “India’s electoral blunder is revealing more secrets. Clearly, the PM-HM strategy was to capture and win the West Bengal Assembly elections at any cost. This was a textbook case of massive manipulation and rigging, overseen by the CEC.”
Demands for Top-Level Resignations: Asserting that the Chief Election Commissioner could not evade systemic culpability, the Congress leader added: “The puppeteer must certainly go, but the two puppeteers must also be held accountable,” directly linking the administrative decisions of the Election Commission to central executive directives.
Escalating Political Pressure: The Opposition’s fierce critique intensifies ongoing scrutiny over the poll watchdog, framing the entire Special Intensive Review across sensitive border states as a mechanism engineered to disenfranchise genuine electorates.
Tribunal Flags 27 Lakh Deleted Voters: Technical Gaps in ECI’s Digital Portal
The controversy gained substantial legal momentum following critical revelations submitted by judicial tribunals appointed under apex court oversight:
Over a Dozen Tribunals Raise Red Flags: Media reports highlighted that judges presiding over more than a dozen appellate tribunals—specifically instituted under Supreme Court directions to hear voter appeals arising from the SIR process in West Bengal—flagged widespread deficiencies and systemic errors in the software portal built by the ECI’s IT division.
Fate of 27 Lakh Electors: The appellate judges documented technical anomalies, process failures, and administrative irregularities surrounding the deletion of over 27 lakh names from the state’s electoral rolls, casting serious doubts over whether due process was observed before striking off voting rights.
Flawed Data Infrastructure: Judicial reviews revealed that the poll panel’s IT infrastructure suffered from architectural loopholes that hindered transparent cross-verification, preventing affected electors from effectively challenging their wrongful exclusion.
Supreme Court Stirs the Pot: CJI Surya Kant Bench Warns of Striking Down Illegal Form 6 Changes
Adding immense weight to the Opposition’s accusations, recent stern remarks from the highest constitutional bench have placed the poll panel on the backfoot:
Apex Court Bench Issues Clear Warning: A Supreme Court bench presided over by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant alongside Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana delivered a firm warning to the poll authority, stating: “We will examine all the decisions. If any decision is not in accordance with the law, we will set it aside. You know the power of the court.”
No Judicial Approval for Form 6 Tweaks: Rebutting claims that regulatory adjustments were cleared judicially, the bench explicitly stated: “No amendment to Form 6 has been approved by us. When the records are produced, we would like to see who amended it.”
Intensifying Demands for Ouster: The Supreme Court’s direct rebuke over Form 6—the statutory application utilized by Indian citizens for inclusion in electoral rolls—has handed the Congress and aligned Opposition blocs potent ammunition to demand the immediate resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged unilateral and unauthorized alterations.