Union Minister Chirag Paswan has said the Election Commission, as an independent constitutional institution, should directly address questions being raised about its functioning and take the public into confidence. His remarks came as Congress workers staged a protest in Patna demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation amid the continuing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Patna, Sept 2026 : Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Friday said the Election Commission of India (ECI), being an independent constitutional institution, should respond firmly to questions being raised about its functioning and reassure the public amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the poll panel.
Paswan was speaking amid protests in Patna seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a wider political dispute over the Election Commission's functioning. His comments came after reports of differences within the three-member poll panel over aspects of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Paswan said he would not defend any individual merely because he was part of the government and maintained that the responsibility for clarifying the issues lay with the Election Commission itself.
“I don't know. As part of the government, I will not defend anyone. The Election Commission is an independent constitutional institution. If questions are being raised about the Commission, I believe it is the responsibility of the Election Commission — and especially the CEC — to firmly present his side,” Paswan said.
The Union minister said he was not particularly concerned by political statements made by Opposition parties, arguing that raising allegations against the government and institutions was part of their political role.
However, he stressed that the Election Commission should focus on addressing public concerns rather than responding specifically to Opposition parties. According to Paswan, transparency and communication were important to maintaining confidence in the electoral process.
“The CEC should not act merely to appease the Opposition; instead, the Commission should take the public into confidence. That is the beauty of democracy,” he said.
Paswan's remarks came against the backdrop of reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised written objections on several occasions over decisions relating to electoral-roll revision, IT systems and other administrative matters. The Indian Express reported that the two commissioners had recorded objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period.
The Election Commission has rejected suggestions that the reported differences amount to an institutional breakdown. It has maintained that written observations and differing views are part of the normal deliberative process within a multi-member constitutional body and that decisions are ultimately taken in accordance with the applicable legal framework.
Meanwhile, Congress workers took to the streets in Patna on Friday demanding Kumar's resignation. The protest was part of the Congress' nationwide mobilisation over the SIR controversy. The party had directed its state units to hold marches to State Election Commission offices on September 25 and district-level protests on September 28.
In Patna, the march was led by Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram. Protesters moved towards the election-related offices but were stopped by police barricades. According to reports, police used water cannons to prevent the demonstrators from proceeding further. The protesters raised slogans demanding Kumar's resignation and continued their demonstration after being stopped.
The Patna protest forms part of a broader political confrontation over SIR and the functioning of the Election Commission. Congress has demanded Kumar's removal and an independent review of electoral-roll changes and decisions taken during his tenure, while the poll panel has defended its institutional processes.
Paswan's intervention is notable because he is a Union minister and leader of an NDA ally, yet he has called for the Election Commission to directly clarify the issues before the public. He stopped short of endorsing the Opposition's allegations against the CEC or the poll panel, instead emphasising the need for the constitutional institution to address questions and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.
