New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, Kharge accused the Election Commission of failing to ensure transparency in the electoral-roll revision process and described Kumar as a “puppet” of the Modi government.
The CWC subsequently adopted resolutions seeking Kumar’s resignation, suspension of the SIR exercise and restoration of names that Congress says were removed from the electoral rolls.
Kharge also demanded that Modi resign on “moral grounds”, alleging that the Prime Minister had pressured the Chief Election Commissioner. The CWC resolution additionally called for the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Kharge compared the deletion of voter names under the SIR exercise to “vote-demonetisation”, drawing a parallel with the 2016 demonetisation policy.
“History bears witness that ten years ago, this very Prime Minister devastated India’s economy with the decision of ‘demonetisation’. And now, ten years later, he is destroying our robust democracy through a conspiracy of ‘vote-demonetisation’,” Kharge said.
He said the vote was particularly important for poorer and disadvantaged sections and alleged that the SIR process could deprive citizens of that right.
“The poor bear the brunt of all his flawed policies. During demonetisation, the poor stood in queues; with this move to disenfranchise voters, the poor are being pushed out of the queue altogether,” Kharge said.
Kharge outlined five measures that Congress wants implemented to improve transparency in the electoral process: complete publication of data relating to major changes in electoral rolls; information and an opportunity to appeal for people whose names are removed; timely access to electoral-roll information for political parties; independent and time-bound investigations into serious discrepancies; and greater transparency in election-related data and decisions.
The CWC also demanded immediate suspension of the SIR process and restoration of 13.3 crore names that Congress says have been removed from the rolls.
The figure refers to names excluded from draft electoral rolls during the ongoing revision process; it should not be read as the number of voters permanently deleted from final electoral rolls. An Indian Express analysis reported that more than 13 crore names had been excluded from draft rolls across 30 states and Union Territories, with subsequent verification and claims processes still relevant.
Kharge’s demands come amid reports of differences within the Election Commission. An Indian Express investigation reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding decisions and procedures linked to electoral rolls, including Form 6 and additions and deletions of voters.
The Election Commission, however, has maintained that decisions relating to the SIR were unanimous and that differences during internal deliberations are part of the institutional process. The poll panel has also sought to present a united position amid the controversy.
Kharge said Congress’s objective was not to weaken constitutional institutions but to ensure that the Election Commission commands the confidence of both the ruling party and the Opposition.
The CWC resolved to continue pursuing the issue in Parliament, courts and through public demonstrations. The INDIA bloc is also scheduled to meet in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss a joint course of action on the issue.
