EC row: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra seeks criminal prosecution of CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Wayanad MP, has demanded that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar be “criminally prosecuted for treason” for “intentionally allowing an unfair election to take place” by deleting around 13 crore voters from the electoral rolls.

The Congress leader told reporters in Wayanad on Thursday (September 24, 2026) that anyone who “played around” with the democratic process of elections was committing “treason” against the nation.

According to a media report, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had reportedly flagged issues related to the deletion of names under the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. They had also raised objections to the decision-making process 14 times in the past few months.

Ms. Vadra said that tampering with electoral rolls and deleting around 13 crore voters from it was a criminal act against democracy, against the constitution and against the nation.

“That is our clear stand. I do not think anybody in that position should have legal protection in the way that the CEC has, if they have done illegal acts,” she said.

“Since criminal acts fall under a particular law, and people are usually tried and prosecuted for them, why should the CEC have any protection against it?” Ms. Vadra asked.

“If he [CEC] has done an illegal act, he has been fully aware that this is happening under his nose, his colleagues have brought it to his attention, he has ignored it and intentionally allowed an unfair election to take place. He should be criminally prosecuted just like any other criminal, and he should be tried for treason,” she said.