In September 2026 the Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected at least 14 times in 10 months to decisions by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Election Commission has not denied that the notes exist; it says all decisions were nonetheless unanimous.
Claim: The two other members of the Election Commission recorded at least 14 objections to decisions taken without their knowledge.
Said by: An Indian Express investigation, published around 23 September 2026.
What the record shows: The objections are reported and now listed in petitions before the Supreme Court. The ECI does not dispute that the notes exist but says decisions were unanimous.
Where the claim came from
The Election Commission has three members: CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi. Section 18 of the 2023 law says business shall "as far as possible" be transacted unanimously, and otherwise by majority. Act, s.18
As summarised by PTI on 23 September 2026, the Indian Express reported that Sandhu and Joshi objected "on record" at least 14 times over 10 months, four of them on a single day, to decisions and orders they said were made without their knowledge. The issues concerned the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. ThePrint/PTI
The report became the trigger for the anti-CEC protests. On 24 September the Cockroach Janta Party gave Kumar 48 hours to resign. Al Jazeera
What the evidence shows
Documented Petitions now in the Supreme Court list objections dated 28 October 2025 to 14 August 2026. They include orders issued in the Commission's name without approval, no circulated agendas or minutes for over a year, foreign travel without approval, a July 2026 change to Form 6, central control of the roll database, and appeals filed before West Bengal tribunals without the two commissioners knowing who authorised them. LawBeat The Leaflet
On Form 6, Joshi reportedly recorded in May that it could not be changed through SIR instructions, and Sandhu agreed. In August Sandhu called the added declaration "unauthorised and illegal". The Week
Claim · ECI Commission sources said all decisions, including on the SIR, were unanimous and approved by all three members. Officials said the two commissioners had raised concerns about deletions and the voter database, and that differing views are a normal part of discussion. ThePrint/PTI The Week
The News Minute notes that the ECI did not dispute that the 14 notes exist, nor explain how they fit with its claim of unanimity. TNM
No evidence of forged signatures. The documented allegation is that orders went out without approval, not that anyone signed for the commissioners.
Context
On 5 October 2026 the Supreme Court issued notice to the Union, the ECI, the CEC and both commissioners, but refused to restrain Kumar and said it would not act on media reports alone. LawBeat On 29 September the ECI ordered a drive to enrol "left out" voters and dropped the disputed Form 6 question. Business Standard More detail is on the SIR and CEC page.
Questions people ask
Who are the two election commissioners who objected?
Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, the two members of the Election Commission besides CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Does the Election Commission deny the 14 objections?
No. It says all decisions were unanimous and that disagreement is normal, but it has not disputed that the notes exist.
Did the Supreme Court act on the objections?
On 5 October 2026 it issued notice but refused interim orders, saying it would not act on media reports alone.
Sources
- CEC and Other ECs Act, 2023, Section 18
- ThePrint/PTI: Election commissioners flagged issues but poll body unanimous on SIR decisions, 23 Sep 2026
- Al Jazeera: Cockroach movement demands election chief's resignation, 25 Sep 2026
- LawBeat: SC issues notice, no interim orders, 5 Oct 2026
- The Leaflet: SC issues notice on pleas to suspend CEC, 5 Oct 2026
- The Week: ECI denies one-man autocracy allegations, 23 Sep 2026
- The News Minute: A one-man Election Commission?, 9 Oct 2026
- Business Standard: ECI orders special drive in 20 states, 2 Oct 2026
