INDIA Bloc Marches to EC: Kharge and Chidambaram Allege Threat to Voting Rights
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Karti Chidambaram allege the Election Commission is disenfranchising citizens through the SIR exercise.
In a massive show of defiance, leaders of the INDIA alliance staged a march to the Election Commission on Tuesday, accusing the poll panel of undermining the fundamental right to vote. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Karti Chidambaram led the charge, alleging that the government is systematically stripping citizens of their democratic powers.
Kharge Accuses CEC of Being a 'Government Puppet'
Addressing the gathering during the protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on the current administration. He claimed that the universal adult franchise, a cornerstone of Indian independence, is being deliberately eroded.
Kharge leveled serious allegations against the independence of the Election Commission, stating that the institution is no longer autonomous. "The CEC is merely a puppet of the government. Whatever Modi and Shah tell them to do, that is exactly what they do," Kharge declared, naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Congress leader warned that such institutional decay poses an existential threat to the nation's democratic fabric. He remarked:
- Democracy in the country is at risk of being destroyed.
- The Constitution is being pushed toward its end.
- The nation faces the possibility of "Hitler-like rule."
- Citizens are being pushed into a state of subjugation and "slavery."
Kharge reaffirmed that the INDIA alliance would continue its struggle to protect the rights of the citizenry and ensure that the goal of democratic preservation is met.
Chidambaram Targets 'SIR' Exercise and Voter Deletion
While Kharge focused on the political direction of the Commission, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram raised specific technical and legal concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. He alleged that this process is being used as a tool for mass disenfranchisement.
The Controversy Over Forms 6 and 7
Chidambaram highlighted two specific forms that he claims are being manipulated to prevent legitimate citizens from exercising their rights:
- Form 6 (New Voter Enrollment): Chidambaram questioned the inclusion of intrusive queries regarding whether an applicant's parents or grandparents were voters. "Your right to vote is not dependent on the fact whether your parents were voters or not," he argued, questioning who inserted these requirements into the enrollment process.
- Form 7 (Voter Deletion): While intended to remove deceased or relocated voters, Chidambaram alleged that Form 7 is being abused for the mass deletion of names. He cited a specific instance in Karnataka where he claimed a BJP worker filed 7,000 applications to delete voters.
Demands for Resignation and Legal Validity
The Congress MP raised questions regarding the decision-making process within the Election Commission, asking if these changes were made through a unanimous vote or unilaterally by the CEC. He warned that if decisions were made unilaterally, the entire SIR exercise would be "illegal and ultra vires."
Chidambaram concluded with a stern warning: if the electoral rolls are fundamentally flawed due to these practices, any election results derived from them would lack any legal or democratic validity.