India's opposition is challenging the election chief over a disputed voter-roll revision.
Why it matters: The dispute tests confidence in India's election system and raises questions about the burden placed on existing voters. The Supreme Court's May 2026 ruling addressed the Election Commission's authority in Bihar but did not resolve every procedural dispute over later phases.
- Rahul Gandhi led a November 1, 2025 rally in New Delhi calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
- Reuters reported an aggregate of more than 130 million struck or removed entries, including about 28 million recorded as deceased, 63 million as relocated and 30 million as untraced.
- The Election Commission's Phase III schedule covers 16 states and three Union Territories and lists about 367.4 million electors on the jurisdictional rolls; the supplied materials do not establish that all were verified in that phase.
- On May 27, 2026, the Supreme Court upheld the commission's authority to conduct Bihar's revision while requiring notice, hearings and appeals for disputed exclusions.
Opposition parties led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held a rally in New Delhi on November 1, 2025, under the slogan "Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao," demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. Gandhi said, "Gyanesh Kumar will have to relinquish his position." The Associated Press reported that opposition parties and supporters protested the revision. The supplied materials do not provide an attendance figure.
The Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, began with a June 24, 2025 order focused initially on Bihar and later expanded in phases. The commission cites Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Its stated targets include deceased, duplicate, relocated and otherwise ineligible entries, while eligible voters whose names were wrongly deleted can seek re-enrolment. The commission's order sets out that remedy.
Reuters reported more than 130 million struck or removed entries in a count reported in the supplied materials. The report identified about 28 million as deceased, 63 million as relocated and 30 million as untraced - about 121 million across those three categories. The materials do not provide the remaining categories or establish that the aggregate represents eligible voters permanently disenfranchised. The Reuters item is available through a syndicated copy hosted by Investing.com; the dossier does not provide its original Reuters URL or publication date. The report also says wrongly deleted voters can re-enrol.
Phase III covers 16 states and three Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab and Telangana. The official release linked here lists the complete jurisdictions and schedule: the government release. About 367.4 million electors are associated with those jurisdictional rolls. The supplied materials do not establish that all 367.4 million were verified during Phase III. Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were excluded pending census-related work and consideration of weather conditions.
On May 27, 2026, the Supreme Court held that the commission had authority to conduct the Bihar SIR, while stressing notice, hearings and appeals before disputed exclusions. The judgment directly addressed Bihar and did not resolve every procedural dispute involving later phases.
By the numbers
- More than 130 million - Reuters' aggregate count of struck or removed entries, not a count of eligible voters permanently disenfranchised
- About 121 million - the three categories specifically identified in the supplied Reuters account: deceased, relocated and untraced entries
- About 367.4 million - electors on the jurisdictional rolls covered by Phase III, not a confirmed count of completed verifications
Yes, but: The 130 million figure is an aggregate of reported struck or removed entries, and the supplied materials do not provide a full category breakdown, an original Reuters URL or evidence that all affected entries belonged to eligible voters. The Supreme Court's May 2026 ruling concerned Bihar and did not settle every challenge to later phases.
What's next: The dated developments in the supplied record are the November 1, 2025 opposition rally and the Supreme Court's May 27, 2026 judgment; the dossier does not provide a subsequent verification deadline, appeal window or election date.