Congress Accuses Election Commission of Illegal Form 6

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh has accused the Election Commission of India of illegally amending Form 6 to create barriers for young voters. The allegation, made via a post on X, claims the online form was stealthily changed in early July 2026 without official notification to require parental SIR details.

Ramesh stated that late on Friday, September 25, 2026, the Commission directed officers to organise special enrolment camps for young voters. He argued this move followed an earlier, illegal change that made registration difficult. The new mandatory section asks applicants whether their parents or grandparents were included in the previous Special Intensive Revision. For online applicants, the process cannot proceed until this declaration is completed.

Jairam Ramesh claimed the Election Commission does not have the power to amend Form 6. He said that power rests solely with the Union Government under the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Also, he alleged the form was changed without amending the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, a step that requires government action and parliamentary intimation. "The CEC has broken not just Constitutional conventions and practices but has also knowingly broken the law as passed by Parliament," Ramesh said.

The Congress leader called for the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter. He reiterated the demand from Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. Ramesh asserted that Kumar's continued tenure is an affront to the people of India and suggested he could redeem himself by resigning and turning approver.

Election Commission Denies Amending Form

The Election Commission has denied amending Form 6. A poll panel official stated the SIR-related requirement was introduced via instructions and an additional declaration called Annexure D, required for online applicants. The Commission maintained that all final decisions related to the SIR process were taken unanimously and with legal sanction.

Officials provided figures on voter enrolment on Friday, September 25. They said 2.37 crore electors aged between 18 and 28 had been added since the SIR exercise began in Bihar last June.

Political Reactions and Protests

The allegations have sparked broad political reactions and protests. Opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Left parties have joined the criticism. Congress workers staged demonstrations in multiple states including Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Manipur.

In Assam, APCC president and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi was detained by police during a protest rally. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi has separately alleged that 13 crore voters have been deleted from rolls. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal questioned the Opposition's allegations, while Union Minister Chirag Paswan said the Election Commission should firmly present its position.

Internal Objections and Broader Context

Accounts differ on internal dynamics within the Election Commission. Jairam Ramesh alleged that two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, objected at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions related to the SIR process. The Election Commission has asserted that all final decisions were carried by the approval of all three commissioners.

The dispute occurs amid heightened scrutiny over electoral roll integrity and youth voter access ahead of upcoming elections. It is also part of a broader political controversy over the SIR exercise and electoral roll preparation in Bihar.

The Congress Working Committee meeting is scheduled for September 29, 2026 in New Delhi.