Kharge Says CEC Resignation, SIR Rollback and Ballot Papers Are Non-Negotiable

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the party's three “non-negotiable demands” are the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, annulment of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and holding elections using ballot papers instead of EVMs.

Kharge said Congress workers and INDIA bloc partners were on the streets across the country over the issues and that the opposition alliance would continue its campaign against the Election Commission.

The INDIA bloc has announced a “Save Democracy March” and demonstrations at the district level from October 2 to 8. Opposition MPs are scheduled to march to the Election Commission on October 6, while opposition leaders are expected to meet President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October to raise their concerns.

The Congress' demand for scrapping the SIR comes amid allegations over decisions taken during the electoral-roll revision process. An Indian Express report said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded at least 14 objections over the past 10 months to decisions and orders concerning the SIR, with some objections relating to Form 6, voter deletions and access to electoral-roll databases.

The report said the two commissioners had raised concerns over certain decisions being taken without their knowledge or recommendation. Petitions have subsequently been filed in the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court challenging aspects of the SIR process and seeking scrutiny of the Election Commission's functioning.

The Election Commission has rejected suggestions that the objections reflected institutional dissent, saying that queries, inputs and differing views are part of its deliberative process. It has maintained that its orders have full legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.

Kharge also accused the BJP of “harassing” female journalists in Delhi, calling the alleged conduct condemnable, and accused the government of using “distraction tactics” to divert attention from the issues raised by the opposition.