Congress Alleges EC Violations Over ECINet Portal
Jairam Ramesh accuses Election Commission of bypassing statutory authority of Electoral Registration Officers
- Congress alleges ECINet violates electoral laws.
- Jairam Ramesh demands accountability over alleged violations.
- INDIA bloc announces nationwide protests and marches.
- Election Commission defends its statutory procedures.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd Oct: The Congress on Friday accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of violating provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 in the functioning of the ECINet portal, and demanded accountability for what it described as violations of law and the Constitution.
Congress general secretary in-charge Jairam Ramesh alleged that the ECI’s September 26, 2026 press note had promised a committee to certify that ECINet complies with the relevant laws and rules. He questioned why such compliance was not established from the outset.
According to Ramesh, ECINet was launched on January 22, 2026 with the stated objective of enhancing transparency, credibility and public trust. He alleged that the ECI had then said the system had been developed in accordance with the Constitution, the Representation of the People Acts, 1950 and 1951, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
Ramesh alleged that restrictions on the access of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to the ECINet voter-roll system, along with instances where EROs were allegedly overruled in states including Goa and West Bengal, amounted to violations of the statutory framework governing electoral rolls.
He further claimed that the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer had written to the ECI on September 24 seeking correction of what he described as an “illegal state of affairs”.
The Congress leader also announced that the INDIA bloc, citizens and civil society organisations would hold protests across the country seeking accountability over the alleged violations.
The latest allegations come amid a wider political dispute over electoral-roll revisions and the functioning of the Election Commission. The opposition INDIA bloc has announced joint “Save Democracy” marches in districts and rallies, while also calling for ballot-paper voting and expedited judicial proceedings concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and alleged electoral irregularities.
At a meeting attended by leaders of 19 opposition parties, the bloc decided that opposition MPs would march to the Election Commission on October 6 and that opposition leaders would meet the President to raise concerns over alleged irregularities in voter-list revision. The grouping has also discussed demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The controversy intensified following reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on multiple occasions over decisions and orders relating to the SIR process.
The Election Commission has maintained that differences of views and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations and said its orders carry legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.
