CEC betrayed Constitution at behest of Modi, Shah; Form 6 changed illegally, unilaterally: Congress

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday (October 5, 2026) asserted that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and everyone else involved in "criminal assault on democracy" will be held accountable, after the Supreme Court said it did not approve any modifications to Form 6 being used during the SIR.

The Opposition party also alleged that the CEC "betrayed" the Constitution in letter and spirit at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The attack came after the Supreme Court on Monday (October 5, 2026) issued notices to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Centre on pleas alleging that the poll body took several decisions without the approval of the two Election Commissioners and said that it will annul decisions found not to be in accordance with law.

The top court, however, refused to pass any interim direction to restrain CEC Kumar from taking any decision till the final disposal of the petition.

The apex court also said that it has not approved any modifications to Form 6 being used by the ECI during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in various States.

Form 6 needs to be filled by eligible citizens for inclusion in electoral rolls for the first time.

In a post on X, Mr. Gandhi said it is now established beyond doubt that Mr. Kumar changed Form 6 "illegally and unilaterally", and asserted that the CEC as well as everyone else involved in this "criminal assault on democracy" will be held accountable.

Mr. Gandhi also shared on X a screenshot of a September 26 ECI statement which said, "The declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR has been upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. For non-SIR period, the Forms applicable as per Rules (the Registration of Electors Rules 1960) will be used."

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said, "It is now established beyond doubt that Gyanesh Kumar changed Form 6 illegally and unilaterally. This is just one more proof of him abusing his position to help the BJP."

"He and everyone else involved in this criminal assault on our democracy will be held accountable," Mr. Gandhi said.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also lashed out at the CEC, saying obviously and very clearly the CEC "lied".

"Form 6 was deliberately modified by the CEC himself to delete Gen Z voters of whom the PM is simply terrified," Mr. Ramesh said on X.

In another post, Mr. Ramesh said the Supreme Court heard a petition seeking, among other things, the suspension of the CEC.

"Based on the recent damning revelations regarding (1) the ad-hoc, illegal and slip-shod manner in which the SIR was taking place, (2) criticism from both sitting and retired Judges of the Supreme Court, (3) the vast and indiscriminate (and many obviously incorrect) deletions without adequate due process, the Supreme Court has a remarkable opportunity to restore public confidence in an institution vital to the integrity of our republic," he said on X.

As of now, the Supreme Court has chosen to seek a reply and it has chosen not to pass any interim order, Mr. Ramesh noted.

The Supreme Court has in the past trusted the ECI and the CECs to give a fair account of their running of the body, he said.

"The Supreme Court would do well to note that that trust was based on decades of propriety and competent conduct starting with the late great Sukumar Sen, the first CEC who set the bar for how elections are to be conducted. None of that goodwill can be claimed by Gyanesh Kumar," Mr. Ramesh said.

This "malicious" Form 6 modification, which was originally implied to have the Supreme Court's approval, is one such example of his underhanded and simply indefensible conduct, he said.

"In reality, the CEC has not only lied but also violated the law and betrayed the Constitution in letter and spirit at the behest of the PM and the HM," Mr. Ramesh alleged.

Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera also slammed Mr. Kumar.

"The ECI had sought to justify the controversial Form 6 declaration by claiming that the Form 6 had been upheld by the Supreme Court. That claim has now been squarely contradicted by the Court itself, which has unequivocally clarified that it did not approve the modified Form 6 being used by the ECI," Mr. Khera said on X.

With this, the ECI's principal stated justification for the modified Form 6 has collapsed, he said.

"Soon, Gyanesh Kumar Gupta will have to stand in the witness box," Mr. Khera said.