Live: EC set to release joint statement on report alleging dissent within body

NewsIndiaLive: EC set to release joint statement on report alleging dissent within bodyLive blogSIR Dissent Row Live Updates: A massive political row erupted after the Opposition, citing an Indian Express report, claimed that two Election Commissioners had dissented with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over various aspects of the nationwide SIR exercise. The report claimed that two Election Commissioners had formally objected 14 times to various aspects of the SIR over the past 10 months. The EC later rejected the report, saying all decisions were being made unanimously and that decisions taken individually did not reflect the poll panel's stand. Leading the Opposition's charge, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi alleged that the EC and BJP committed an "act of treason" and called “vote chori” a “crime against the Indian people”. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and other Opposition leaders demanded the arrest of Gyanesh Kumar and cancellation of the SIR exercise. Follow indiatoday.in for live updates....Read MoreSep 23, 2026 14:06 ISTSIR Controversy: Treachery with nation, says Priyanka Gandhi on row over 'dissent' within EC over SIRCongress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday described the reported dissent within the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as an “act of treason” and demanded that those responsible be held accountable and investigated by an impartial authority. “It is actually, it is treachery with the nation. It is an act of treason. Those responsible must be held accountable and thoroughly investigated by an impartial authority,” Priyanka Gandhi said. “My brother Rahul Gandhi ji has been continuously raising the issue of bias and the injustice being carried out through the EC. He has highlighted several issues, and now the Election Commissioners themselves have brought these concerns to the attention of Gyanesh Kumar ji,” she added. Sep 23, 2026 14:03 ISTSIR Latest News: EC to release joint statement shortly amid 'rift' in poll bodyThe Election Commission is expected to release a joint statement shortly amid a massive row over an Indian Express report claiming that there was a dissent within the poll body over the nationwide SIR exercise.Sep 23, 2026 14:01 ISTOpposition Reaction on SIR: Act of treason, Rahul Gandhi attacks EC, BJP over SIR 'dissent' rowLeader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP, RSS and the EC had “committed an act of treason” after an Indian Express report claimed that there was dissent within the EC over the SIR exercise. Sharing a 15-second video of his statement, Gandhi called “vote chori” a “crime against the Indian people” and a “direct attack” on the Constitution. Vote chori is a crime against the Indian people and a direct attack on our constitution. The BJP, RSS and EC who organised it have committed an act of treason. Justice will be served. pic.twitter.com/30kX06CBiH — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 23, 2026 Sep 23, 2026 13:57 ISTElection Commission Dissent Live: EC downplays dissent report, says opinions may vary, but final decisions unanimousThe Election Commission on Wednesday rejected reports of dissent within the three-member panel over the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying individual views expressed by Election Commissioners do not amount to decisions of the poll body. EC sources told India Today TV that while the Chief Election Commissioner or either of the two Election Commissioners may have individual opinions on a matter, all decisions of the Election Commission, including those related to the SIR, were taken unanimously with the approval of all three members. READ MORE HERE Sep 23, 2026 13:54 ISTSIR Latest News: Why Opposition are up in arms over EC's 'dissent' over SIR?The Opposition on Wednesday accused the Election Commission of undermining the electoral process after an Indian Express investigation reported that two Election Commissioners had raised objections 14 times over various aspects of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the past 10 months. According to the report, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected to issues including the registration of new voters, deletion and restoration of names from electoral rolls, and the filing of appeals against orders restoring voters during the SIR process. The three-member Election Commission is headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who has faced repeated criticism from Opposition parties over the SIR exercise. The revision, aimed at identifying ineligible and deceased voters, began in Bihar in June last year and has so far resulted in more than 13 crore names being deleted from draft electoral rolls across 30 states and Union Territories. Delhi and Maharashtra have recorded the highest number of deletions.