"He has become BJP worker": Kharge demands CEC resignation
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge calls for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, alleging he is propagating BJP's philosophy.
In a scathing attack on the Election Commission, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Kharge accused the CEC of abandoning neutrality and instead propagating the philosophy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), sparking a massive political storm over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
A Threat to Democracy
Addressing the media, Kharge emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the controversy surrounding the SIR exercise and the conduct of the Election Commission is not just a political dispute but a matter of national survival. He noted that the Congress party intends to fight this issue with full force.
"This issue concerns the entire country, the existence of our democracy, and the country's survival. That's why we are very serious about this issue," Kharge remarked, adding that a Congress Working Committee meeting has been convened to deliberate on the next steps and gather strategic suggestions.
Allegations of Partisanship
The Congress leader's fury stems from allegations that the CEC has crossed the line of institutional propriety. Kharge cited reports suggesting that the CEC had even encouraged a high-ranking official to enter politics under the banner of the ruling party.
"Even a Chief Secretary of Kerala says, our CEC himself told him to contest the election. It means that a person who is in the highest position is propagating the BJP’s philosophy, and he has become a BJP worker," Kharge alleged. He further insisted that if the CEC possesses even a shred of moral integrity, he must step down immediately, noting that legal or further actions could follow even after his resignation.
The Spark: The SIR Controversy and "Match-Fixing" Claims
The tension escalated following reports involving former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson. Rahul Gandhi had previously accused the CEC of "match-fixing elections," citing claims that Kumar had approached Thomson to contest the 2026 Assembly elections on a BJP ticket.
The controversy is further fueled by reports regarding internal friction within the Election Commission. It has been suggested that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections at least 14 times over a ten-month period regarding decisions related to the SIR, including:
- Issues concerning Form 6.
- The deletion of voters from rolls.
- Access to electoral-roll databases.
The Election Commission's Defense
The Election Commission has dismissed the notion of internal dissent, clarifying that the objections raised by commissioners were part of the standard administrative process during the draft stages. The poll body maintained that all final decisions, including those regarding the SIR, were reached unanimously with the approval of all three commissioners.
Regarding the scrutiny over a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary, the EC clarified that the matter pertained to the functioning of an officer on deputation and did not involve any overarching policy decisions.
Opposition Unity: INDIA Bloc to Meet
The demand for the CEC's resignation is not limited to the Congress. A broad coalition of opposition parties, including the CPI, CPI(M), Trinamool Congress (TMC), and Shiv Sena (UBT), has joined the call for his exit.
Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of CPI(ML) Liberation, announced that an INDIA bloc meeting is expected on September 30 to discuss the SIR exercise and the functioning of the Election Commission. He has also suggested that the discussion should be widened beyond just the bloc partners to address the concerns of the nation.