New Delhi: The Congress has accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of “knowingly” breaking the law and constitutional practices by “unilaterally”
changing Form 6. The party has urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance and hold him accountable. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Kumar’s continued tenure was an “affront” to the people of India and that he should resign, as suggested by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Ramesh also alleged that the Election Commission had directed officials late on Friday to organise special enrolment camps for young voters and give them “wide publicity” on social media. “But the CEC himself had earlier made it virtually impossible to add young voters through a blatantly illegal and unconstitutional change to Form 6. A new mandatory section was added that asks if your parents/grandparents were in the previous SIR, creating a barrier for first-time Gen Z voters. “The change is completely illegal. -- Violation 1: In early July 2026, the online form was stealthily changed with no official notification,” the Congress leader said.
कल देर रात घबराए हुए चुनाव आयोग ने अधिकारियों को युवा मतदाताओं के लिए विशेष नामांकन कैंप लगाने और सोशल मीडिया के जरिए उनका “व्यापक प्रचार” करने का निर्देश दिया।
लेकिन इससे पहले खुद CEC ने Form 6 में खुले तौर पर गैरकानूनी और असंवैधानिक बदलाव कर युवा मतदाताओं के लिए अपना नाम…— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 26, 2026
Congress Lists 3 ‘Violations’ Over Form 6
Ramesh alleged that the Election Commission did not have the power to amend Form 6 and that this power rests with the Union Government under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
“This power is only held by the Union Government as per The Representation Of The People Act, 1950. This is clearly a huge overreach by the Election Commission,” Ramesh said.
He described the alleged change to the form as the second violation.
“Violation 3: The form was changed without any amendment to the Rules that govern it under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. That can only be done by the Union Government with proper intimation to Parliament. A statutory form, defined by the law, was unilaterally changed by the CEC Gyanesh at the instance of the rattled PM-HM duo,” he added.
Ramesh further claimed that the two other election commissioners had called for the change to be reversed so that young and first-time voters could register without difficulty.
“The CEC has broken not just Constitutional conventions and practices but has also knowingly broken the law as passed by Parliament. His continuation in office is an affront to the people of India.
“A confirmed law-breaker in charge of implementing laws -- what has Indian democracy degenerated to. The Supreme Court must immediately take suo motu cognisance and hold him accountable,” the Congress general secretary said.
Ramesh also said Kumar could still “redeem himself” by resigning and turning approver, a suggestion earlier made by Rahul Gandhi.
EC Says Form 6 Was Not Amended
The allegations come amid a row over a new declaration linked to Form 6 for people seeking inclusion in the electoral rolls.
According to poll panel officials, 2.37 crore electors in the 18-28 age group have been added since the SIR exercise was launched in Bihar last June.
Following the change in the online process, new applicants are required to provide details linked to the SIR records of their parents while applying for inclusion in the voter list.
A poll panel functionary, however, said the declaration was added through instructions and that Form 6 itself had not been amended.
For those filling Form 6 online, the process cannot move forward until the declaration is completed.
The dispute over the form has added another layer to the ongoing controversy surrounding the SIR exercise and the functioning of the Election Commission.
