Opposition Leaders Challenge Election Commission’s SIR Roll Revision in Supreme Court

New Delhi – On Monday, Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha’s Leader of the Opposition, teamed up with ten senior members of the INDIA bloc to file a writ petition before the Supreme Court. Their aim? To put the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls under the legal microscope.

The petition, registered under diary number 64196/2026, names the ECI and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as respondents. It also points to two other election commissioners – Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi – as part of the defence.

Among the petitioners are familiar faces: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool leader Saugata Roy, Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) stalwart Sanjay Raut, CPI(M) leader M.A. Baby, CPI’s D. Raja, JMM’s Mahua Majhi, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule and IUML’s E.T. Mohammed Basheer. Together they argue that the SIR exercise has resulted in “large‑scale voter deletions” and threatens the very fabric of electoral fairness.

In a press conference at the Congress headquarters, Gandhi recounted how the group had earlier written to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, urging him to intervene. The CJI, he said, suggested that the opposition approach the apex court through a formal petition – a suggestion they promptly acted upon.

“We are not merely protesting; we are seeking judicial relief,” Gandhi added, his tone a mixture of resolve and urgency. “If eligible citizens are stripped from the rolls, democracy itself is under attack.” He called on ordinary Indians to stand with the petition, framing it as a defence of the Constitution.

Parallel to the legal move, opposition leaders launched a march toward the Supreme Court, demanding that CEC Gyanesh Kumar step down over alleged irregularities. The protest, though peaceful, underscored the deepening rift between the poll body and the political opposition.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, predictably, dismissed the allegations. National spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan told IANS that the Supreme Court had already upheld the constitutional validity of the SIR process, branding the opposition’s claims as “baseless” and “political theatrics.” He also pointed to recent electoral defeats of the Congress in several state elections as evidence of its waning relevance.

As the petition sits pending before the Supreme Court, the nation watches keenly. Will the court intervene and order a review of the SIR exercise? Or will it reaffirm the Election Commission’s authority? The answer will likely shape the contours of India’s next electoral battle.

For now, the INDIA bloc remains steadfast, urging citizens to stay vigilant and reminding the administration that the electorate’s voice cannot be silenced without a fight.