Congress accuses CEC Gyanesh Kumar of illegally changing voter Form 6

The Congress on Saturday accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of “knowingly” violating the law and constitutional practices by allegedly changing Form 6, and urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that the Election Commission had “unilaterally” introduced a new requirement in the voter enrolment form that could make it harder for first-time voters to register.

Ramesh claimed the online version of Form 6 was changed in early July without an official notification, with a new declaration seeking details of whether an applicant's parents or grandparents had been included in the previous Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

He argued that the Election Commission did not have the authority to amend the statutory Form 6 and that such changes could only be made by the Union government under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

Ramesh also alleged that the change was made without amending the relevant rules or informing Parliament. He called Kumar's continuation as CEC “an affront to the people of India” and reiterated Rahul Gandhi's demand that the poll panel chief resign.

The Congress leader further urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance and hold Kumar accountable for what he described as violations of law and constitutional conventions.

The Election Commission, however, has maintained that Form 6 itself has not been amended. According to poll panel officials, the SIR-related requirement was introduced through instructions and an additional declaration, known as Annexure D, which applicants filling Form 6 online are required to complete.

The controversy centres on the requirement for new voters to provide details relating to their parents' participation in the previous SIR. Once the additional declaration is triggered on the online form, applicants cannot proceed without completing it.

The ECI has also said that 2.37 crore electors in the 18-28 age group were added to the electoral rolls after the SIR exercise began in Bihar in June.

Ramesh said the requirement created an unnecessary hurdle for young and first-time voters and alleged that the change should be reversed.

The dispute comes amid the wider political controversy over the SIR exercise and the process of preparing electoral rolls in Bihar.