"Ballot belongs to people": Kharge calls for SIR roll back, CEC's resignation and accountability at INDIA bloc meet
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge calls for CEC resignation and a rollback of SIR, alleging massive voter list manipulation at the INDIA bloc meeting.
In a high-stakes meeting of the INDIA bloc held in the national capital on Wednesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India. Asserting that the fundamental democratic principle of "one person, one vote, one value" is under severe threat, Kharge demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and a complete rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Allegations of Massive Voter Deletion
Kharge raised serious alarms regarding the integrity of electoral rolls, claiming that the current processes are undermining the people's mandate. He specifically targeted the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), an exercise intended by the Election Commission to update voter lists, alleging it has instead become a tool for exclusion.
Key concerns raised by Kharge include:
- Massive Voter Removal: He alleged that a staggering 13.3 crore voters have been removed from the electoral rolls, effectively snatching their democratic rights.
- Demand for Pre-SIR Rolls: Kharge demanded that the electoral rolls used prior to the SIR exercise be utilized for upcoming elections to ensure no genuine voter is left behind.
- Lack of Transparency: He called for complete transparency in the processes of adding, deleting, or correcting names, insisting that voters must receive prior notice, clear reasons, and an effective mechanism to appeal deletions.
- Barriers for Youth: The Congress leader suggested that changes in Form 6 are creating unnecessary hurdles for first-time voters, making registration more difficult for the youth.
"The CEC Stands Totally Exposed"
Directly addressing the leadership of the Election Commission, Kharge did not hold back his criticism of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. He suggested that the CEC's position has been compromised by internal friction and external pressures.
"Today our Chief Election Commissioner stands totally exposed," Kharge stated. He pointed out that two other members of the Commission had written 14 times in just 10 months, which he argued calls into question the integrity and intentions of the CEC. He further stated that if the CEC possesses any constitutional or moral shame, he should resign and potentially act as an approver against those interfering with electoral rolls.
Return to Ballot Paper?
In a significant stance on the debate over voting technology, Kharge suggested that the INDIA bloc's position should be to return to ballot voting. He emphasized that the mandate and the ballot must belong strictly to the people, and that secrecy must not be allowed to replace transparency in the electoral process.
He reiterated that the opposition would not allow the foundational principles of the Republic to be weakened by the current functioning of the Commission.
United Front Against 'Vote Chori'
Supporting the movement, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed that the constituent parties of the INDIA bloc remain unified in their mission to protect the Constitution. Commenting on the meeting, Ramesh accused the Modi government of employing a "Vote Chori" (vote theft) gameplan through the Election Commission to maintain power.
The meeting saw participation from a wide array of political entities, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), AITC, NCP(SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), RJD, CPM, CPI, JMM, and several other regional parties, all signaling a collective push for electoral accountability.