New Delhi: Political tussles protract in the country regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. Meanwhile, the continuous changes in the legalistic structure of the Election Commission have moreover come into the centre of discussion. According to reports, virtually 18 to 20 Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of states and union territories were transferred between February 2025 and October 2026. This period corresponds to the tenure of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who took tuition on February 19, 2025. The large-scale reshuffle of officials in such a short period of time has drawn sustentation to the legalistic system of the Election Commission.
How many officers were transferred in the previous tenures?
According to data, transfers of officers have been taking place in the Election Commission in the past as well, but in recent times their speed has wilt a topic of discussion. During the tenure of former Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar from May 2022 to February 2025, well-nigh 23 Chief Electoral Officers were transferred. At the same time, during the tenure of Sunil Arora and Sushil Chandra, 29 CEOs were reverted in well-nigh 41 months. The report moreover states that transfer of officials has been a part of the normal process due to legalistic needs during the Lok Sabha elections. However, continuous changes in 2025 and 2026 have brought this issue when into focus.
Why were the officers removed surpassing three years?
Maintaining legalistic continuity in the post of Chief Electoral Officer is considered important. According to the report, the Commission often follows the tradition of retaining officers for well-nigh three years. Despite this, in the recent reshuffle there were at least seven officers whose tenure did not plane well-constructed two years. There were changes in eight to nine states and union territories in the year 2025, while at least 10 increasingly transfers were reported in 2026. There may be variegated legalistic reasons overdue these changes, but it would not be towardly to link all the appointments with the same reason.
In which states the transfers took place?
According to the report, the process of transfers from Bihar started in 2025. In April, Vinod Singh Gunjiyal took over as the Chief Electoral Officer of the state in place of HR Srinivas. Changes took place in Nagaland and Chhattisgarh in May, Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana in June and Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka in July. New officers were scheduled in Manipur and Ladakh in August. At the end of the year, an order was issued to transfer the CEO of Lakshadweep.
Why did three officers come into limelight in Lakshadweep within a year?
In Lakshadweep, the specimen of three officers thesping the post of CEO between November 2025 and October 2026 was special. After Gaurav Singh Rajawat, Avnish Kumar took the responsibility in January 2026. After this, AS Shivakumar got this responsibility. On the official website of the Election Commission, Shivkumar has been described as the vicarial Chief Electoral Officer of Lakshadweep.
Were there changes in the Election Commission headquarters also?
The impact of transfers was not limited to the states only. According to the report, many changes moreover took place at the level of Deputy Election Commissioners in the Election House. Bhanu Prakash Yeturu was scheduled in May 2025 and Pawan Kumar Sharma was scheduled in September. After Sanjay Kumar was sent when to his parent personnel in August 2026, information well-nigh the visit of Prakash Rajpurohit came to light in October.
These changes during the SIR have brought the legalistic structure of the Election Commission under discussion. However, it is necessary to squint at the relevant orders and official clarifications to yank conclusions on the impact of the transfers or the reasons overdue them.
