India election chief faces voter-list controversy

India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is facing growing pressure from opposition parties over allegations of irregularities in the revision of the country’s electoral rolls.

Opposition groups are demanding Kumar’s resignation and have accused the Election Commission of allowing widespread manipulation of voter lists. Kumar has rejected the allegations, while the Election Commission has said that differences of opinion within the institution are part of its normal decision-making process.

The controversy intensified after a report by the Indian Express claimed that two senior election officials had raised at least 14 formal objections over a 10-month period. The objections reportedly involved voter registration procedures, electoral rolls and the commission’s digital systems.

Political analysts estimate that around 130 million names have been removed from voter lists since the latest revision process began last year. Nearly 650 million people cast their ballots in India’s 2024 general election.

Opposition parties have repeatedly alleged that changes to voter lists could benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP, government ministers and the Election Commission have denied the allegations and rejected claims of electoral manipulation.

The dispute has also triggered plans for further protests. The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party has called for nationwide demonstrations demanding Kumar’s removal. The Congress party has gone further, calling for criminal proceedings against the election chief over what it describes as serious violations.

Kumar has defended the Election Commission’s role and said the institution treats the ruling party and opposition equally.

The controversy comes after US President Donald Trump recently praised Kumar for requiring Indian voters to establish their identity through photo identification. Kumar had taken charge as India’s chief election commissioner in February 2025 after serving as an election commissioner.

His tenure has faced opposition criticism from its early stages. Opposition lawmakers previously introduced a motion seeking his removal, but Parliament rejected the move in April.

Kumar, 62, joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1988 after earning a civil engineering degree in Uttar Pradesh. He later served in India’s defence and home ministries before retiring from government service in January 2024. He was appointed election commissioner two months later and subsequently became the country’s chief election commissioner.