Arvind Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party, issued a direct ultimatum on Monday: Prime Minister Narendra Modi must resign. Speaking at a political event, Kejriwal rejected the current focus on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, arguing that the poll chief acts merely as an agent for the Prime Minister. “Everything is happening at his behest,” Kejriwal stated, urging opposition leaders to bypass the bureaucracy and target the source of power directly.
The escalation stems from a report by The Indian Express detailing internal dissent within the Election Commission. The report revealed that the two other Election Commissioners raised objections regarding the SIR process and the inclusion of Form 6 on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months. These internal flags pointed to systemic irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls, a claim Kejriwal used to galvanize his base against the Centre.
Until now, the opposition’s strategy has centered on the impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the cancellation of elections conducted under his tenure. Kejriwal’s new rhetoric marks a sharp pivot, framing the electoral integrity crisis as a direct consequence of the Prime Minister’s influence. He characterized the CEC’s actions not as independent administrative decisions, but as compliance with the will of the “boss.”
The political stakes rise immediately following this declaration. With the opposition now demanding the head of government step down, the SIR row transforms from a bureaucratic dispute into a constitutional challenge. The next move will likely come from the Prime Minister’s office, which is expected to dismiss the allegations while the political opposition prepares further protests.