The opposition alliance is calling for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation, a pause in SIR and a return to paper ballots.
NEW DELHI Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has reiterated three demands advanced by the opposition INDIA bloc amid its disagreement with the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The demands are the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, an immediate halt to the revision exercise and the use of paper ballots instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Kharge has argued that the Election Commission should be held accountable for its handling of electoral-roll issues. The opposition has also called for repeal of the 2023 law governing the appointment and service conditions of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, criticising aspects of the framework and the protections it provides for official actions.
The INDIA bloc wants the SIR exercise stopped, saying safeguards are needed to prevent eligible voters from being wrongly removed from the rolls. Opposition leaders have also sought restoration of names they believe were deleted improperly and greater clarity about how records are reviewed and updated.
The Election Commission has maintained that electoral-roll revision is part of the established process for keeping voter lists accurate and that its decisions follow applicable legal procedures. The central dispute concerns the transparency of the exercise, the safeguards available to voters and the handling of contested entries.
Kharge’s third demand is a return to paper ballots. Congress and some opposition allies have raised concerns about voting procedures and public confidence in election results. Any change to the current system would require decisions by the competent authorities within the relevant legal and electoral framework.
The demands form part of the opposition’s wider campaign on electoral transparency and voter rights. Congress is also preparing for the November 1 ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ rally at Ramlila Maidan, where the alliance is expected to present its concerns.