Born on August 16, 1968, Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician, a former bureaucrat and the 7th Chief Minister of Delhi. An IIT Kharagpur Alumnus, Kejriwal is the founder and convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and gained public attention when he won the Raman Magsaysay Award for his role as a Right to Information (RTI) activist in 2006.
Kejriwal was born in Haryana's Bhiwani district and completed his schooling from Hisar. A student of mechanical engineering, Kejriwal left his job at Tata Steels, cleared his civil service examinations and joined the Indian Revenue Services in 1993. He married his batchmate Sunita Kejriwal in 1995.
A few years later, he shifted his focus to social issues and started a movement called 'Parivartan' with Manish Sisodia and others to address the grievances of the citizens of Delhi. He joined Anna Hazare to lead an anti-corruption dharna seeking enactment of a Jan Lokpal Bill in 2011. Following his differences with Hazare, he laid the foundation of AAP and contested the 2013 Delhi Assembly Elections.
In 2013, Kejriwal defeated three-time Chief Minister Sheila Dixit in New Delhi constituency and went to become the second-youngest CM of the national capital. But he resigned in less than 50 days. He unsuccessfully contested against the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi from Varanasi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
However, in 2015, Kejriwal returned to power after his party saw a landslide win and bagged 67 out of 70 seats. He was sworn in as the Chief Minister for the second time on February 14, 2015. He became the Chief Minister of Delhi for the third time in 2020 and is considered one of the most prominent politicians of India.
Opposition parties are intensifying coordination to forge a united front against the Election Commission and central agencies. CPM General Secretary M.A. Baby met AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi to discuss a joint struggle, inviting him to participate in party programmes in Kerala. The discussions focused on allegations of authoritarian functioning within the poll body, targeting of opposition leaders, and central agency actions against political figures including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Arvind Kejriwal, and Manish Sisodia. The coordination comes ahead of a key INDIA bloc meeting scheduled for 30 September, where opposition leaders plan to outline a common strategy to challenge the central government and the election watchdog.
Efforts to unite the opposition gained momentum as political parties coordinated action regarding the demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's removal. Ahead of an opposition meeting scheduled for 30 September at the Constitution Club, CPM General Secretary MA Baby is slated to meet former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Deliberations have brought together political rivals, including the Communist Party of India and the Trinamool Congress, alongside outreach to other parties. The discussions follow reports of internal objections by election commissioners over decisions taken by the Chief Election Commissioner. Opposition members plan to hold coordinated protests against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission, while also preparing to move an impeachment motion in Parliament.
Massive protests led by the Indian Youth Congress and Congress state units broke out across multiple cities, including Delhi, Chandigarh, Patna, and Hyderabad, demanding the resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. In Chandigarh, police used water cannons against protesters, while youth workers marched towards the Election Commission office in Delhi before being stopped by barricades and paramilitary personnel. The demonstrations follow allegations raised by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders concerning the functioning of the Election Commission of India and alleged centralization and manipulation of electoral rolls. While the opposition prepares strategy for street demonstrations and explores parliamentary steps including a potential impeachment motion, the Bharatiya Janata Party defended the poll body and dismissed allegations, asserting that electoral rolls are decentralized and accusing the opposition of making excuses for electoral setbacks.
Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra has filed a police complaint at the Parliament Police Station in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Ganesh Kumar. Speaking on the matter, Moitra alleged that decisions conveyed by the Election Commission were falsified by one individual without majority consent, arguing that statutory immunity under Section 16 of the CEC and EC Act 2023 does not apply. The Election Commission dismissed the allegations, asserting that unanimous decisions were taken. Meanwhile, opposition leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, and Akhilesh Yadav, have demanded the CEC's arrest, alleging irregularities in electoral rolls and calling for past elections to be declared null and void alongside holding fresh polls.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar faces scrutiny following a media report highlighting objections raised by two Election Commissioners regarding the SIR exercise, changes to Form 6, and control over electoral data. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray, and M.K. Stalin, demanded the removal or arrest of the poll chief and the scrapping of the process. In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party rejected the allegations, stating that the Supreme Court upheld the legal validity of the SIR process and that internal deliberations reflect a functioning democracy.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has faced strong criticism following an Indian Express report detailing internal objections raised by two Election Commissioners regarding the special intensive revision process. Key concerns highlight modifications made to Form 6, the centralization of electoral roll data, and restricted portal access for Electoral Registration Officers. In response, opposition parties have strongly condemned the developments, demanding legal accountability, the immediate removal of the Chief Election Commissioner, and fresh elections in multiple states. Leaders accused the poll authority of compromising democratic integrity. Conversely, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party defended the commission, asserting that divergent viewpoints during internal deliberations reflect democratic functioning rather than institutional compromise. The party maintained that the legal validity of the exercise has been upheld by the Supreme Court and dismissed opposition claims as politically motivated.
In this broadcast debate, former Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat and BJP National Spokesperson Dr. Syed Zafar Islam examine allegations of internal dissent within the Election Commission of India. Discussion centres on reported friction where Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi formally recorded 14 objections in 10 months against decisions taken under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Addressing the controversy, O.P. Rawat notes that the poll panel operates as an autonomous constitutional body where decisions are mandated by law to be taken unanimously or by majority vote. He questions why two commissioners holding a majority would complain to the Cabinet Secretary rather than approaching the President of India or exercising their voting power. Rawat also flags deep concerns over the Special Intensive Revision exercise, specifically voter deletions in West Bengal where 93 percent were found eligible on appeal, calling it 'a blot on democracy'. Syed Zafar Islam dismisses opposition allegations, asserting decisions were collectively implemented.
A report highlighting repeated objections from two election commissioners over voter roll revisions has triggered a political storm around the Election Commission of India. Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly raised 14 objections over 10 months concerning the Special Summary Revision exercise, modifications to voter registration Form 6, database centralisation, and digital access issues. Concerns also extended to voter roll processes in West Bengal and software glitches affecting eligible voters in Goa. Key questions surfaced over requirements for parents' and grandparents' details without formal rule amendments. The disclosures have drawn sharp reactions from opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, and Arvind Kejriwal, who demanded strict accountability and targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Rejecting allegations of an internal rift, the Election Commission maintained that internal dissenting notes and diverse viewpoints reflect routine checks and balances within statutory frameworks. The Bharatiya Janata Party defended the poll body, describing internal deliberations and differences of opinion as evidence of a functioning democracy.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders have intensified their attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Gandhi termed alleged vote theft as a crime against the Constitution and an act of treason, warning election officials of accountability. Meanwhile, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal demanded action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, calling for the cancellation and re-polling of recent assembly elections conducted following the SIR exercise across Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal, and Delhi. The opposition has also demanded an immediate halt to ongoing electoral roll revisions.
The Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls has triggered controversy across West Bengal and Delhi. In West Bengal, over 37 lakh appeals remain pending before tribunals following the deletion of approximately 27 lakh voters. Based on the Election Commission of India's affidavit before the Supreme Court, disposing of this massive backlog at the current monthly pace of around 25,238 cases could take nearly 12 years. To accelerate hearings, the poll panel has sought to increase the number of appellate tribunals from 19 to 42. Meanwhile, in Delhi, 33.3 lakh voters have received revision notices over discrepancies such as unmapped records from the 2002 voter list, name mismatches, and age differences. High-profile figures, including Union Ministers, former and current Chief Ministers, and senior officials, have received notices. The Election Commission clarified that issuing a notice does not equate to deletion, ensuring that no name will be removed without a hearing, while the opposition alleges large-scale voter exclusion.
The Special Intensive Revision of Delhi's electoral rolls has placed over half of the national capital's voters under scrutiny. Out of a total of 1.45 crore voters, 47.5 lakh names have been deleted from the draft roll under the absent, shifted, dead, or duplicate categories. An additional 33.13 lakh electors have been flagged for discrepancies, comprising 19.33 lakh under logical discrepancies and 13.80 lakh not mapped with the 2002 electoral roll. Prominent personalities, including Union ministers, former chief ministers, senior bureaucrats, judges, and election officials, have received notices. The Election Commission clarified that receiving a notice does not signify immediate voter deletion or ineligibility, noting that electors have an opportunity to submit supporting documents for verification before electoral registration officers. The disposal of notices is scheduled for completion by October 29, ahead of the final electoral roll publication on November 4.
A massive backlog in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has surfaced in West Bengal, with over 37 lakh appeals pending before tribunals. Calculations based on the Election Commission's affidavit in the Supreme Court indicate clearing this backlog could take nearly 12 years at the current pace, prompting the poll panel to propose increasing appellate tribunals from 19 to 42. In Bengal, around 27 lakh voters were deleted from rolls, while 38.3 lakh total appeals were filed against exclusions and inclusions. Meanwhile, the SIR controversy has expanded to Delhi, where nearly 33% of voters were excluded from the draft list and 33.3 lakh notices have been issued due to mismatches, age discrepancies, and mapping issues from the 2002 voter list. High-profile figures, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and CBI Director Praveen Sood, have also received notices. The Election Commission clarified that receiving a notice does not mean immediate deletion, assuring that corrections and hearings will follow proper procedures.
The Election Commission has issued notices to several prominent figures across Delhi following discrepancies in electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision exercise. High-profile names flagged include External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and CBI Director Praveen Sood. Reasons cited include unmapped names from previous rolls, name mismatches, and parental age inconsistencies. The opposition attacked the move, alleging voter disenfranchisement. The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer clarified that notices do not mean deletion, stating they aim to correct data with due hearing.
An anti-drug activist, Jagga Singh, allegedly attempted suicide by consuming poison outside a government office in Sangrur, Punjab. This marks the second such incident in the home turf of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, following the death by suicide of another activist, Gulzar Singh. Jagga Singh claimed he faced persistent harassment and threats from Aam Aadmi Party workers after posting videos raising concerns about the drug menace in the state. The incident has triggered a political confrontation, with opposition parties Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party attacking the ruling AAP government. The opposition accused the state leadership of failing to deliver on its promise of a drug-free Punjab and attempting to silence citizens raising their voices against illicit drugs.
The Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision drive in Delhi has flagged electoral roll discrepancies, leading to notices being served to several high-profile individuals, including Union Minister S. Jaishankar, former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, CBI Director Praveen Sood, and former Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai. Discrepancies cited include unmapped voter records from previous rolls, name mismatches, and parental age inconsistencies. The opposition has criticised the exercise, describing it as a massive voter removal drive and a constitutional assault. In response, the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer clarified that issuing a notice does not signify automatic deletion of voter names, but serves to rectify data, ensuring an opportunity to be heard before any appealable order. The Bharatiya Janata Party defended the revision as a constitutional and unbiased exercise, pointing out notices issued across party and institutional lines. Electors receiving notices must verify their details, review the notice on the district portal, submit required documents within deadlines, and participate in verification hearings.
The Election Commission has issued notices to several high-profile figures in Delhi over electoral roll discrepancies during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Those flagged include External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, former Army Chief Upendra Trivedi, CBI Director Praveen Sood, and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Discrepancies involve unmapped entries, name mismatches, and parental age inconsistencies. The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer clarified that issuing notices does not mean deletion from electoral rolls, stating the exercise aims to correct data with due opportunity to be heard. Meanwhile, political parties exchanged barbs, with opposition leaders alleging a conspiracy to disenfranchise voters, while others defended the SIR as a transparent, constitutional process applied equally across all citizens.
The Delhi poll body has clarified that standard summary revision (SIR) notices sent to voters, including several high-profile individuals, do not imply deletion from the electoral roll. According to Election Commission sources, the Chief Electoral Officer is addressing and facilitating these cases on a priority basis as part of standard operating procedures. The issue came to light after multiple prominent figures—including Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, former army leadership, and CBI Director Praveen Sood's family—received notices stating they were unmapped with the previous revision exercise. Amid concerns and political claims regarding draft electoral list discrepancies affecting leaders across political lines, officials confirmed that voters have a one-month window to submit documents and rectify their details before the publication of the final list.
The Election Commission of India has issued Special Intensive Revision notices to several high-profile figures across the national capital, sparking concerns over the verification procedure. Those flagged for discrepancies include a sitting Union Cabinet Minister, a former Army Chief, the Central Bureau of Investigation Director, former Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Member of Parliament John Britas, Congress leader Udit Raj, and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Discrepancies leading to these notices include names being unmapped with previous electoral rolls, name mismatches, and parental age inconsistencies. Aam Aadmi Party leaders and affected individuals have raised questions about data collection errors by booth-level officers. With Delhi voters required to justify their positions before upcoming deadlines ahead of the final electoral roll publication scheduled for November 4, 2026, the sweeping notices across political, judicial, and security circles have become a major administrative and political flashpoint.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and four of his family members have been served electoral roll verification notices under the unmapped with last Special Intensive Revision category. The Election Commission issued notices due to incomplete enumeration forms and unlinked details from the last revision roll. Kejriwal stepped up his attack on the exercise, alleging millions of missing names from the draft voter list. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's details were flagged for a discrepancy during the process and subsequently validated after physical verification by the Booth Level Officer. The notice disposal process must be completed by October 29.
The Delhi Election Commission has served notices to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and four of his family members under the Unmapped With Last SIR category in the New Delhi constituency (AC40). The notices were issued to Arvind Kejriwal, his wife Sunita Kejriwal, father Gobind Ram Kejriwal, mother Geeta Devi, and 25-year-old son Pulkit Kejriwal, stating their records were not tracked from the previous SIR exercise. The five are among 110 individuals served notices in this specific part segment of the constituency.
