The Election Commission of India issued a press note on September 26, 2026, stating that the orders for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) were passed with the unanimous approval of all three commissioners. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with S. S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, signed off on the clarification, which explicitly rejected claims of internal dissent. The note also clarified that a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary regarding an officer on deputation was unrelated to any policy matter or the IT division's work.
The BJP and its ally, the Telugu Desam Party, immediately called the controversy closed. "One photo. One official note. Days of propaganda wiped out in minutes," Deepak Mhaskey, the party's social media head, posted on X. N Chandrababu Naidu, the TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, added that the "unanimous clarification... reaffirms the integrity and credibility of our constitutional institutions." At a press conference in Bhubaneswar, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra argued that the statement "clarifies this matter unequivocally" and accused the Congress of attacking constitutional institutions for vested interests.
Congress, however, refused to accept the ECI's version. Pawan Khera, the party's MP and spokesperson, called the note "too lame, too little, too late." He echoed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's earlier demand, telling CEC Gyanesh Kumar to either resign or "turn approver" in the case of alleged voter manipulation to favor the BJP. The row began after The Indian Express reported on September 23 that Sandhu and Joshi had written at least 14 objection notes on SIR-related decisions.
The ECI's note also stated that the contentious work redistribution orders issued by the officer in question were not actually implemented. The next step lies with the opposition, which must decide whether to escalate the issue to the courts or continue with parliamentary questions, while the ECI maintains that its internal proceedings are final and binding.