'Brazen Vote Chori': Congress CWC Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Resignation
Congress CWC demands the immediate resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and suspension of the SIR process over allegations of mass voter disenfranchisement.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) has launched a massive political offensive, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. In a series of resolutions passed at the AICC headquarters on Tuesday, the party accused the current leadership of the Election Commission of India (ECI) of orchestrating a "brazen 'vote chori'" to benefit the RSS-BJP.
Demands for Electoral Roll Restoration
The CWC's resolutions highlight a massive discrepancy in the nation's voter lists. The party has demanded the immediate suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and the restoration of 13 crore 30 lakh names that they claim have been arbitrarily removed from the electoral rolls.
The party argued that the SIR process places an unfair burden on citizens to prove their eligibility and lacks transparent safeguards. According to the CWC, this "arbitrary mass-disenfranchisement" violates constitutional guarantees under Article 14 and the principle of universal adult suffrage under Article 326. "An exercise of doubtful constitutional validity cannot be allowed to decide who may vote in the world's largest democracy," the resolution stated.
Allegations of a 'One-Man Show'
The Congress has raised serious concerns regarding the internal functioning of the ECI. The CWC alleged that the commission has been reduced to a "one-man show," claiming that the CEC is making critical decisions without consulting the other Election Commissioners.
The resolution cited reports suggesting that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over a ten-month period. These objections reportedly concerned decisions and procedures related to the SIR, including alleged "unauthorised" and "illegal" changes to Form 6.
Vindication of Rahul Gandhi's Warnings
The CWC noted that these developments appear to vindicate the previous warnings issued by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding "Vote Chori." The party's concerns extend to several key areas, including:
- Selective enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.
- Integrity issues surrounding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
- The process for appointing the CEC and the grant of lifelong immunity to the office.
- The concentration of control over electoral rolls during the nationwide SIR.
A National Fight for Democracy
The party emphasized that this is not a new struggle. Under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Congress has been campaigning through various channels, including the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, the nationwide Vote Chori campaign, and legal challenges to the SIR. They have also engaged in protests in Parliament and marches to the ECI.
The CWC concluded that the CEC has "forfeited all moral and institutional authority" and accused him of organizing this "brazen Vote Chori" on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. The party vowed to continue their opposition in Parliament, courts, and on the streets until the ECI is restored as an independent constitutional authority and every citizen's vote is secured.