'Gyanesh Kumar Deserves Padma Bhushan': BJP Hits Back Amid Opposition Protests Against CEC

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News india 'Gyanesh Kumar Deserves Padma Bhushan': BJP Hits Back Amid Opposition Protests Against CEC

Last Updated:September 25, 2026, 18:11 IST

West Bengal BJP Chief Samik Bhattacharya credited Gyanesh Kumar's work during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) for removing infiltration and intimidation in West Bengal.

While Congress leaders are protesting across several cities, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expressed full support for the poll body chief, saying he deserves the Padma Bhushan.

Speaking to reporters in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal BJP Chief Samik Bhattacharya said, “Even the Congress party does not take Rahul Gandhi seriously. At the very least, Gyanesh Kumar deserves the Padma Bhushan."

Bhattacharya credited Gyanesh Kumar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive for removing infiltration and intimidation ahead of West Bengal elections held this year. “The people of West Bengal are delighted that, after so long, intimidation was kept at bay. There were no incidents of murder, and people were actually allowed to cast their votes… The people of West Bengal have rarely witnessed an election like this," he added.

The BJP’s response came after Congress leaders staged protests across major cities, including Patna and Kolkata, demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation after an Indian Express report flagged an “unprecedented rupture" within the Election Commission of India (ECI), with two Election Commissioners raising objections to the conduct of the SIR exercise.

According to the investigation, the two commissioners said some decisions were made without their knowledge and raised concerns over voter registration, deletion and restoration of names, changes to Form 6 and access to the electoral-roll database. The two Commissioners had also written to Cabinet Secretary against “unauthorised" and “illegal" decisions.

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Opposition parties and Congress leaders are demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation following a media investigation report claiming an internal rupture within the Election Commission, where two Election Commissioners reportedly raised objections on multiple occasions over decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and voter registration forms.

The BJP defended Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with West Bengal BJP Chief Samik Bhattacharya stating that he deserves the Padma Bhushan for conducting the Special Intensive Revision drive that successfully reduced voter intimidation and prevented violence during the West Bengal elections.

Two Election Commissioners reportedly raised objections over decisions made without their knowledge, expressing concerns regarding voter registration, the deletion and restoration of names, modifications to Form 6, and the centralisation of the electoral-roll database.

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Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int...Read More

First Published:

September 25, 2026, 18:11 IST

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