Fresh Storm over ‘Vote Chori’

The ‘Vote Chori’ issue is back in the spotlight and threatens to snowball into a major controversy following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections to changes made to statutory voter-registration Form 6. According to the report, the two Commissioners had questioned the legality of the changes and said they should be removed.

The controversy gained traction after a report in The Indian Express revealed that the two Election Commissioners had objected to several decisions concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The report said the Commissioners had recorded objections at least 14 times over the past 10 months.

Opposition parties lost no time in sharpening their attack on the Election Commission and demanded action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Congress dubbed the controversy “Gyaneshgate”.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP, RSS and the Election Commission had committed an act of “treason” by organising what he described as “vote chori”. In a post on X, Gandhi said, “Vote chori is a crime against the Indian people and a direct attack on our Constitution.” He reiterated the allegation in a video shared on social media. Similar concerns were expressed by Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded the arrest of the CEC and fresh elections to the Assembly with pre-SIR electoral rolls. She alleged that the BJP and the poll panel had “looted” the elections held earlier this year. She also announced plans for pan-India protests until the CEC resigns.

The Opposition has been critical of the SIR, alleging that the exercise could disproportionately affect voters opposed to the BJP. The Election Commission, however, has maintained that the revision is part of its constitutional responsibility to maintain accurate electoral rolls.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, has defended its procedures. It said all official orders, decisions and administrative directions issued by the Commission carry legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures. It also said that operational queries and suggestions raised by Commissioners during the drafting stage are part of normal administrative practice and are aimed at improving electoral processes.

The BJP has also defended the Commission and described the reported differences as part of institutional deliberation. BJP MP Sambit Patra said that the objections recorded by the two Commissioners should be seen in the context of internal discussions and described such deliberations as a sign of a healthy democracy.

Patra also accused the Opposition of repeatedly attacking constitutional institutions after electoral defeats. He said the SIR was undertaken following a unanimous decision of the three Election Commissioners.

The controversy therefore raises two separate questions. One concerns the specific legal process followed in changing Form 6, particularly the objections reportedly recorded by two Commissioners. The other concerns the broader allegations made by the Opposition about the SIR and the integrity of electoral-roll revisions.

At the same time, the Election Commission has rejected any suggestion that its formal decisions lack institutional validity, maintaining that its orders and directions follow established procedures. The Commission's official website currently lists Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi as the two Election Commissioners.

The immediate need, therefore, is for greater transparency on what exactly was proposed, what objections were recorded, what action was taken on those objections and under which statutory provisions the changes to Form 6 were made.

For that reason, the latest developments deserve a clear and factual explanation from the Election Commission by holding a joint press conference by all three ECs rather than becoming another round of political allegations and counter-allegations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gowri V

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A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

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