NEW DELHI, September 26, 2026 – Escalating their coordinated offensive against the Election Commission of India (ECI), leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc are likely to convene in New Delhi on September 30 to finalize a joint political and legal strategy. The high-level meeting, proposed to be held at the Constitution Club of India, comes amid a raging controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and reported internal dissent within the three-member poll panel. According to reliable sources, the opposition alliance is actively discussing the drafting of a fresh removal notice against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, which, after being thoroughly vetted by legal experts, is likely to be submitted in both Houses of Parliament. If executed, this would mark the opposition’s third significant attempt to seek the CEC’s ouster.
The proposed September 30 gathering follows an intense period of cross-party consultations triggered by recent media reports revealing that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally recorded their objections on numerous occasions over decisions related to the SIR exercise. The controversy has notably managed to bring bitter regional rivals—the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the CPI(M) in West Bengal—onto the same page. CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby reportedly initiated the outreach by writing to other INDIA bloc leaders and subsequently holding discussions with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who agreed that the evolving situation warranted a unified, coordinated response. Furthermore, Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee recently held a telephonic conversation with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to align their stances on the alleged electoral irregularities.
Setting the stage for the broader alliance meeting, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) is scheduled to convene separately on September 29 to strategize its internal party approach to the unfolding issue. While the CPI(M), CPI, and CPI(ML)-Liberation have already issued strong demands for the immediate removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and a complete halt to the SIR process, the Congress has aggressively amplified its criticism, with Rahul Gandhi publicly demanding the CEC’s resignation. The opposition’s mobilization is expected to culminate in a joint press conference following the September 30 meeting, where leaders aim to highlight their concerns regarding institutional integrity. The Election Commission, however, has consistently maintained that differing viewpoints are a standard component of institutional deliberations and firmly asserted that all its operational orders possess complete legal sanction in accordance with statutory procedures.
Published by True Roots Media Network