Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the principal Opposition party in Odisha, has sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar following the Supreme Court’s clarification that the Election Commission of India (ECI) does not have the authority to amend Form 6 during the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. 

The Naveen Patnaik-led party claimed that the SC rejected the ECI version that the changes made to Form 6 had been carried out with the permission of the Apex Court.

“During the SIR process, around 13 crore voters across the country were excluded. Similarly, in Odisha, the names of approximately 27.50 lakh voters were arbitrarily deleted. The Chief Election Commissioner is working like an agent of the BJP to ensure its victory in the elections,” alleged BJD leader Lekhashree Samantasinghar at a presser in the capital city here on Monday.

According to Samantasinghar, Seema Khanna, Head of the IT Department of the Election Commission of India, has allegedly deleted the names of voters from the electoral rolls unethically through ECI Net.

“The Chief Election Commissioner had issued a clarification through a press release claiming that the changes made by the Election Commission to ECI Net and Form 6 had the permission of the Supreme Court. However, the Chief Justice of India today rejected this claim. The Supreme Court has also issued notices to the Union Government and the Election Commission in this regard. This clearly proves that the Chief Election Commissioner, while holding a constitutional office, has committed unconstitutional acts to help the BJP in the elections,” said Samantasinghar.

BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said the SC clarification has proved that the press release issued by the Election Commission on September 26, 2026 was not based on truth and facts. It is clear from the observations of the Supreme Court that the Election Commission had blatantly lied, he added. 

“In the 2024 elections, the Chief Election Commissioner tampered with EVMs and ensured a one-sided victory for the BJP. CEC Gyanesh Kumar should resign from his post immediately to restore the credibility of the Election Commission,” Mohanty stated.