Farm outfits write to President demanding CEC’s Gyanesh Kumar resignation

Ahead of a farmers’ rally here on Friday (October 23, 2026), demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has written to President Droupadi Murmu that Mr. Kumar has violated his constitutional pledge and must be prosecuted. The memorandum to the President, which also demands scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, will be submitted to all district and sub-divisional magistrates. Various trade unions and civil society organisations have pledged support to the farmers’ march.

The memorandum also demanded restoration of voting rights for all citizens whose votes were deleted “without transparency”. They have urged the President to ensure an amendment to the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act of 2023 and include the Chief Justice of India on the selection panel instead of the Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. “The farmers also demand comprehensive electoral reforms to introduce proportional representation, curb money/muscle power, and legalise state funding of elections,” it added.

The SKM said Mr. Kumar has violated his constitutional pledge and must be prosecuted. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is protecting the CEC who committed the gross crime of deleting genuine citizens from the electoral roll to help the ruling party (the BJP) sustain power,” the memorandum said. It added that Parliament holds the sole power to formally change the rulebook and without Parliament impeaching Mr. Kumar, the Prime Minister cannot overcome the full-blown constitutional stand-off staring at his Cabinet. They demanded immediate revocation of the order of the Delhi Police de-notifying Jantar Mantar as a designated site for peaceful protest.

The All India Coordination Committee of People Against SIR said farmers, workers, daily wage earners, traders, entrepreneurs, journalists, advocates, teachers, employees, artists, intellectuals, women, youth, students, Adivasis, Dalits, and minorities - all sections are expected to join the struggle to reclaim democracy. “People will march and if blocked by the Police, will peacefully hold People’s Parliament, take a pledge to protect democratic rights of all citizens, and culminate with the National Anthem,” it said.

Centre of Indian Trade Unions general secretary Elamaram Kareem said the disenfranchised workers may also be deprived of their entitlement to social security benefits and other government welfare schemes. “Hence, the SIR-led disenfranchisement will lead to the denial of workers’ rights. The scrapping of SIR is therefore essential to ensure workers’ rights to social security,” he said pledging support to the protests.