CEC ‘Puppet’ of Modi Government, Has No Right to Remain in Office: Kharge at CWC Meet

kharge Demands Removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday demanded the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi.

Kharge accused the CEC of acting under pressure from the Prime Minister and alleged that the Election Commission's actions were benefiting the ruling party. He said Kumar had “no right to remain in office”, according to reports of his CWC address.

Kharge Calls CEC a ‘Puppet’ of Modi Government

Addressing the CWC, Kharge described Gyanesh Kumar as a “puppet” of the Modi government. He alleged that the electoral-roll revision process was being used to remove eligible voters from electoral rolls.

These statements represent the Congress president's allegations and political position; they are not an independent finding by the Election Commission or a court.

PM Modi Should Resign on Moral Grounds, Says Kharge

Kharge also demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on moral grounds.

He alleged that the Prime Minister had exerted pressure on the Election Commission and linked the demand to Congress's concerns over voter-list revisions and the conduct of the electoral process.

Congress Raises Concerns Over SIR

The CWC meeting took place amid the political dispute over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Congress has alleged that large numbers of voters have been removed from electoral rolls without adequate safeguards. The party has demanded that deleted voters be informed and given an opportunity to appeal against the deletion.

Kharge Lists Demands for Electoral Transparency

Kharge outlined several demands concerning the electoral-roll revision process.

The Congress has sought:

• Public disclosure of complete data relating to major changes in electoral rolls.

• Information to voters whose names have been deleted.

• An opportunity for affected voters to appeal.

• Timely access for political parties to electoral rolls and relevant data.

• An independent investigation into alleged irregularities in the electoral process.

Congress Calls Voter Deletions ‘Vote-Demonetisation’

Kharge compared the alleged large-scale deletion of names from electoral rolls with what he described as “vote-demonetisation”.

He argued that changes affecting voter registration and electoral rolls could have consequences for eligible voters, particularly young people seeking to register for the first time. Congress has also questioned changes related to Form 6, which is used for new voter enrolment.

Election Commission's Position

The political allegations come amid an ongoing dispute over the functioning of the Election Commission and the SIR process.

The Election Commission has maintained that its decisions have legal backing and has rejected suggestions that its institutional processes have broken down. Reports also state that the poll panel has maintained that decisions are taken through the prescribed process.

Congress Plans Further Political Action

The CWC meeting also discussed further action over the SIR issue.

Following the meeting, Congress announced plans for a nationwide agitation and reiterated its demands for suspension of the SIR process, greater transparency and the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The party also called for Prime Minister Modi's resignation on moral grounds.

INDIA Bloc to Discuss Electoral Roll Issues

The controversy is also expected to be discussed by opposition parties.

According to reports, INDIA bloc leaders are scheduled to meet in Delhi to discuss the electoral-roll controversy and coordinate their response to the Election Commission and the SIR process.

Political Dispute Over Election Process Intensifies

The CWC meeting marks another escalation in the political dispute between Congress and the Election Commission over electoral-roll revisions.

Congress has questioned the transparency of the process and demanded institutional accountability, while the Election Commission has defended the legality and procedures governing its decisions. The competing positions remain part of an ongoing political and institutional debate.

Key Takeaways

• Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

• Kharge described the CEC as a “puppet” of the Modi government, an allegation made by him at the CWC meeting.

• He also demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation on moral grounds.

• Congress has raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

• The party wants deleted voters to be informed and given an opportunity to appeal.

• Congress has demanded greater access to electoral-roll data and an independent inquiry into alleged irregularities.

• The Election Commission has maintained that its decisions have legal backing and followed the prescribed process.