Calls for the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have been made by civil society groups, citing the imperative for free and fair electoral processes in India. The demands emerge amidst a growing controversy surrounding the operational integrity of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the CJP organisation, along with spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, held a press conference to articulate three significant demands. Dipke specifically highlighted the need for strict measures to uphold the impartiality of elections. He further claimed that certain leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had reportedly experienced electoral defeats, which he attributed to actions associated with Gyanesh Kumar, intensifying his call for accountability.

Conversely, the Bengal BJP Chief, Bhattacharya, has publicly voiced his support for Commissioner Kumar. Bhattacharya's defence went as far as suggesting that Kumar merits a prestigious national honour, underscoring a stark divergence of opinion regarding the commissioner's performance.

Bhattacharya's commendation of the Election Commissioner comes in the wake of reports indicating internal dissent within the poll panel. These reports suggest that two election commissioners had raised objections concerning decisions allegedly made in their names during a specific internal exercise, which has further fuelled the ongoing debate over the ECI's transparent functioning.

The escalating discourse underscores concerns from various political and civil society quarters regarding the integrity and impartiality of the electoral machinery. The differing perspectives highlight a broader discussion on accountability and transparency within the institutions responsible for India's democratic process.