P Chidambaram blasted the Election Commission on X, alleging that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is trying to cover up the removal of 13.3 crore voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. He demanded the original SIR file be made public and accused the CEC of reversing illegal decisions without due process.
The tweet rattled a web of state officials. Maharashtra’s chief electoral officer lodged a protest, Odisha’s CEO applied for premature retirement, and Karnataka’s CEO ordered an inquiry into bulk Form‑7 applications that allegedly targeted Muslim voters. The Bombay High Court has also posed tough questions to the ECI and the Maharashtra CEO.
In West Bengal, the appellate tribunals had already ruled in favor of 93% of the 13.3 crore voters who challenged their exclusion, yet many were still denied a vote in the recent assembly elections. Several judges hearing these appeals have voiced frustration, and one has even resigned, signalling cracks within the judiciary’s handling of the case.
The Election Commission responded that its SIR process strictly follows statutory procedures and that any dissent within the institution is part of normal deliberations. It has denied that its actions were unlawful and maintained that the decisions are legally sanctioned.
Chidambaram’s post has ignited an opposition drive for Kumar’s resignation. He has urged other state election officials to speak out, and Parliament is expected to debate the matter next week, with a possible motion of no‑confidence against the CEC on the agenda.