SHOCKING: 9 - What They Never Told You

How we broke the voter roll story before it became a national conversation

More than a year ago, when I began looking into possible manipulation of voter rolls, the first person to help me understand it was Dr SY Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India. 

Newslaundry · Dec 26, 2025

Landslide for NDA, highest vote share for RJD, Cong blames ‘vote chori’

Bihar is barrelling toward one of its most emphatic mandates in years. The NDA has opened up an unassailable lead, ahead on 205 of 243 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan is left clinging to just 31, with independents and smaller outfits leading on seven.

Newslaundry · Nov 14, 2025

Bihar’s silenced voters, India’s gagged press: The twin threats to Indian democracy

The Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, probably expected that his August 18 press conference would settle the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and Rahul Gandhi’s “vote chori” charge. He was wrong. This is a story that has refused to die, notwithstanding Trump’s tariffs, or…

Newslaundry · Aug 28, 2025

Telegraph front page calls out EC ‘obfuscation’, ToI has NDA’s V-P pick as lead story

In a rare press conference on Sunday, the Election Commission of India sought to counter Rahul Gandhi’s charge of “vote fraud,” calling such language an insult to the Constitution. Flanked by his colleagues, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar insisted that the poll body stood with voters and was above partisan…

Newslaundry · Aug 18, 2025

ECI to organise conference of Chief Electoral Officers of States & UTs

The ECI will organise a conference of Chief Electoral Officers of States and Union Territories on March 4-5 at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management in New Delhi. Read further on Dynamite News:

Dynamite News · Feb 24, 2025

Let Me Explain: Concerns with new CEC’s appointment

The ‘midnight’ appointment of new Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has raised concerns about the PM Modi-led government trying to undermine the independence of the country’s top polling body. 

Newslaundry · Feb 24, 2025

Hafta 525: USAID controversy, new CEC’s appointment, Vikatan website blocked

This week on Hafta, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Jayashree Arunachalam, and Anand Vardhan are joined by former Chief Election Commissioner Dr SY Quraishi and cartoonist Rachita Taneja. 

Newslaundry · Feb 22, 2025

Know all about new CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Previously, he has served as the Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation before being appointed as the election commissioner. Read further on Dynamite News:

Dynamite News · Feb 19, 2025

Gyanesh Kumar takes charge as Chief Election Commissioner

Gyanesh Kumar, a 1998 Kerala Cadre officer of the Indian Administrative services, replaced Rajiv Kumar. Read further on Dynamite News:

Dynamite News · Feb 19, 2025

Omar Abdullah supports Rahul Gandhi's dissent note on CEC appointment

J&K CM Omar Abdullah emphasized that as the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi has every right to express his dissent and provide an alternative perspective. Read further on Dynamite News:

Dynamite News · Feb 18, 2025