Congress Seeks CEC's Resignation Over Form 6 Change, Wants Supreme Court to Act
Congress accuses CEC Gyanesh Kumar of illegally changing Form 6 and urges the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance, even as the EC cites 2.37 crore young elector additions.
The Congress on Saturday accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of knowingly violating the law and constitutional conventions by "unilaterally" altering Form 6, the application used by new voters to enrol in the electoral rolls. The party urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter and hold him accountable.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Mr. Kumar's continuation in office was an affront to the people of India and that he should resign, echoing a suggestion made by Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Mr. Ramesh said Mr. Kumar could still redeem himself by stepping down and turning approver, a move he claimed young voters would welcome.
Three alleged violations
The Congress leader listed what he described as three distinct violations. First, he said the online form was changed stealthily in early July with no official notification. Second, he argued that the Election Commission does not have the authority to amend Form 6, a power he said rests solely with the Union Government under the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Third, he contended that the form was altered without any amendment to the rules governing it under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, which he said only the Union Government can do, with proper intimation to Parliament.
Mr. Ramesh also claimed that the two election commissioners had called for the "illegal and unauthorised" change to be reversed so that young and first-time voters could register without harassment. He alleged that a new mandatory section asking whether an applicant's parents or grandparents were part of the previous SIR created a barrier for first-time Gen Z voters.
Late-night camps and the SIR link
According to Mr. Ramesh, a "panicked" Election Commission directed officers late on Friday night to organise special enrolment camps for young voters and give them wide publicity through social media — even though, he said, the CEC had earlier made it virtually impossible for young voters to be added through the Form 6 change.
The controversy centres on a declaration added to the form for new voters. After the change, not only must existing voters show details of their parents in the SIR to remain on the rolls, but those seeking inclusion must also cite details of the exercise. Poll panel officials said on Friday that 2.37 crore electors in the 18-28 age bracket had been added since the Special Intensive Revision exercise was rolled out in Bihar last June.
A poll panel functionary underlined that the declaration was introduced through instructions and that Form 6 itself had not been amended. If a person fills out Form 6 online, the process cannot proceed until the declaration is completed, the official said.