Hyderabad, Oct 2026 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao on Friday demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, asserting that the Constitution and citizens’ voting rights must take precedence over any individual.
In a post on social media platform X, Rama Rao reiterated his demand for the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the alleged irregularities and order an independent investigation headed by a sitting judge.
“Nothing is greater than the Constitution of India. And no Indian citizen can be stripped of their right to vote. Gyanesh Kumar must go!” Rama Rao said, questioning what he described as attempts to protect an individual at the cost of democratic institutions.
He argued that no person was above an institution and asked why the country’s leadership appeared determined to defend one individual when the rights of millions of citizens were at stake.
“Time's up for Gyanesh Kumar and for anyone trying to build a quasi-system that destroys the soul of this great nation,” he added.
BRS Deputy Leader in the Telangana Assembly T. Harish Rao also called for the CEC’s resignation, stating that the Election Commission must remain independent and impartial.
In his post on X, Harish Rao described the Election Commission as the backbone of Indian democracy and said it should not become a shield for those in power. He maintained that questions surrounding the commission’s appointments, independence and functioning affected the foundations of constitutional democracy.
Citing Articles 324, 325 and 326 of the Constitution, along with the Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951, Harish Rao stressed the need for a credible, impartial and inclusive electoral system.
“No eligible voter can be arbitrarily denied their right to vote,” he said, adding that Gyanesh Kumar must accept responsibility. He argued that if the Election Commission could not command public confidence, the CEC should resign.
“Democracy is bigger than any individual or government,” Harish Rao said.
Meanwhile, the BRS has announced plans to stage a protest outside the office of the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Hyderabad on Saturday, demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The party has raised concerns over alleged large-scale deletions of voters during the SIR process in constituencies represented by its MLAs. It has called for a comprehensive and independent inquiry to establish whether irregularities occurred during the revision of electoral rolls.
The proposed demonstration is part of the party’s broader campaign seeking accountability from the Election Commission and safeguards for eligible voters.
Following the Hyderabad protest, the BRS plans to take its campaign to New Delhi, extending its demand for an independent investigation and the CEC’s resignation to the national level.
The allegations raised by the BRS concern the integrity of the electoral roll revision process. The party has called for an impartial inquiry, while its demand for the CEC’s resignation remains a political position over the alleged irregularities.
