A letter sent by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi to Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan concerned the functioning of a senior Deputy Election Commissioner, not Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a Hindustan Times report said on Sunday. Dated July 29, the letter reportedly raised concerns about an official handling election-related matters. Its contents have not been disclosed publicly and were described as classified by a person familiar with the matter. The Election Commission earlier clarified that the communication was not related to its policy decisions or IT division, but concerned the functioning of an officer on deputation to the poll panel. (PC: X)

The INDIA bloc is likely to hold a meeting on September 30 to discuss concerns over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, according to a News18 report. Opposition parties have stepped up their criticism of the poll panel following reports of disagreements among Election Commissioners over decisions related to the voter list revision process. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has urged Rahul Gandhi to convene a meeting soon. Opposition leaders are discussing a joint strategy and have demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal. The parties are also seeking a probe into the Election Commission’s functioning. (PC: X)

NDA allies Chirag Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha have sought clarification from the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, asking it to dispel confusion among people. TDP leader Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu also called for transparency. The issue intensified as Opposition protests spread across the country. Delhi Police detained Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, CPI-ML(L) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, activist Yogendra Yadav and others during protests. Congress held demonstrations in several states, with police using water cannons and tear gas in some places. The protests follow reported objections by two Election Commissioners over electoral-roll processes and technology.

Congress workers staged nationwide protests on Friday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with demonstrations reported in Delhi, Bihar, Assam, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. In Delhi, Indian Youth Congress members marched to Jantar Mantar and raised slogans against Kumar. In Kolkata, Congress workers marched from College Street towards the state Chief Electoral Officer’s office before being stopped by police. Protesters in Patna and Chandigarh faced water cannons, while police used tear gas in Manipur. Several Assam Congress leaders, including Gaurav Gogoi, were detained. The protests followed allegations concerning the Election Commission’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and related decisions.

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on September 24 reiterated his allegations of “vote chori” and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. His remarks followed a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months concerning decisions related to electoral-roll revisions and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Gandhi questioned electoral outcomes in Haryana, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and urged Kumar to become an approver. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of improper functioning, saying differing views are normal and decisions were taken according to legal procedures. (PC: X)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on September 24 alleged that India’s elections were being “rigged” and sharply criticised the Election Commission and the government over reported differences within the poll panel regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The controversy follows reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections to aspects of the process. Gandhi alleged that the issue amounted to “vote chori” and a threat to constitutional rights. The Election Commission rejected claims of institutional disagreement, saying individual observations are normal and that final decisions, including SIR-related measures, were taken unanimously. The matter remains politically contested. (PC: AP)

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has called for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), accusing the election chief of harming democracy. Dipke described the CEC as the “biggest threat to democracy” in his remarks. The CJP began in 2026 as a youth-led political movement. It has focused on issues affecting young people across India. Its campaigns include “School Thik Karo”, which highlights problems in government schools. CJP leader Saurav Das also alleged that the CBI and ED were being pressured to target associates of Election Commissioners. The claims come amid a wider debate over the Election Commission’s functioning.  

The Opposition has criticised the Election Commission after a report said 97 eligible Goa voters were left out of the final electoral roll. Local Electoral Registration Officers had reportedly found the voters eligible after checking their documents. However, the centralised ECINet software did not allow their names to be restored before the final list was published. Goa officials reportedly sent eight emails in seven days seeking a solution. The Indian Express reported that the 97 names remained missing from the final roll. Congress leaders demanded answers from the Election Commission. The poll panel has said differences among commissioners are normal.

The Supreme Court has asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to set a reasonable timeline for deciding the dispute over the Trinamool Congress name and election symbol. The court said both sides must get a fair chance to present their evidence. The ECI had earlier frozen the original TMC name and the Flowers and Grass symbol for the upcoming West Bengal by-elections. It gave the rival groups separate names and symbols as an interim measure. The Supreme Court asked the ECI to return with a proposed timeline on September 28. The by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar are scheduled for October 6.

India will have several medal opportunities at the Asian Games on Thursday, September 24, with Roshibina Devi leading the country’s challenge in wushu. She will face China’s Xiaoyu Zhang in the women’s 60kg sanda final at 6:10 am IST.   Indian rowers will also compete in several finals, while shooting features 10m air pistol and mixed-team skeet events. Athletics will begin with Indian athletes competing in the heptathlon, triple jump, 100m and 10,000m. India’s men’s hockey team will face South Korea, while the men’s and women’s kabaddi teams take on Chinese Taipei and Japan respectively. (PC: The Hindu)