Congress to Meet PCC Chiefs on Oct 5 Over ECI Row
Congress calls AICC in-charges and PCC chiefs to Delhi on Oct 5 to plan agitations against the Election Commission regarding electoral roll irregularities.
The Congress party has summoned a high-level meeting of all All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charges and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chiefs to New Delhi on October 5. The primary objective of this gathering is to devise a robust strategy for upcoming agitations against the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The decision comes as the political temperature rises between the Opposition and the poll body. The Congress has intensified its demands, calling for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following allegations of irregularities in the electoral-roll revision process. The party has accused the Commission of undermining the integrity of the nation's democratic elections.
The Core of the Dispute: Electoral Roll Irregularities
The confrontation centers on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Tensions escalated following a report by The Indian Express, which suggested internal friction within the Election Commission. The report indicated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over a ten-month period regarding specific decisions and procedures related to the SIR and other electoral matters.
One specific point of contention involves the ECINET portal. It has been noted that an additional declaration was added to the online Form 6, requiring applicants to disclose whether their name, or that of their parents or grandparents, appeared in the electoral rolls prepared during the previous SIR. This procedural shift has become a focal point for the Opposition's claims of systemic issues.
INDIA Bloc Mobilises for Nationwide Protests
The Congress is not acting alone in this confrontation. Leaders of the INDIA bloc recently held a coordination meeting in the capital to align their efforts. The alliance has announced a series of intense protests aimed at holding the Election Commission accountable.
Key upcoming actions include:
- Save Democracy March: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge announced that Opposition parties will conduct a nationwide "Save Democracy March" at the district level from October 2 to October 8.
- March to ECI: Opposition MPs are scheduled to march directly to the Election Commission offices on October 6.
- Meeting with the President: INDIA bloc leaders are expected to seek an audience with President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October to formally raise their grievances.
Rahul Gandhi Vows to Protect Democracy
Speaking during the coordination meeting, Rahul Gandhi emphasized the commitment of the INDIA bloc to defend democratic institutions. He framed the struggle as a fight for accountability against those he believes are threatening the country's democratic fabric.
"It is the personal commitment of all INDIA leaders that we are going to ensure that the people who have destroyed Indian democracy are punished," Gandhi stated. He added that the sanctity of Indian democracy outweighs the influence of any individual, regardless of their seniority or status.
Election Commission Responds
The Election Commission has remained firm in its position, categorically rejecting all allegations of wrongdoing. The poll body maintains that all electoral rolls are prepared through established statutory processes and that its actions remain strictly within the bounds of the law. Furthermore, the Commission has stated it has taken necessary steps to review the functioning of the ECINET portal to ensure procedural accuracy.