Kharge Escalates SIR Attack at CWC, Targets PM Modi Over ‘Vote-Demonetisation’

Kharge intensifies SIR offensive, compares voter-roll deletions with demonetisation

New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge intensified his criticism of the Election Commission and the Centre over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, comparing the exercise to demonetisation and calling it “vote-demonetisation.”

Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, Kharge accused the Election Commission of compromising the integrity of the electoral process and demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He also called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation on moral grounds, alleging that the CEC had acted under pressure from the government. These are political allegations made by Kharge and are not established findings.

‘Vote-demonetisation’ remark

Kharge drew a direct comparison between the government's 2016 demonetisation exercise and what he described as the removal of voters from electoral rolls.

He said that while people had stood in queues during demonetisation, the alleged disenfranchisement of voters was effectively pushing people out of the electoral process altogether.

Kharge argued that the vote is particularly important for poorer and marginalised sections and accused the government of attempting to take away that political right.

Five demands over SIR

The Congress president outlined five demands concerning electoral-roll revisions and transparency:

• Full disclosure of major changes made to electoral rolls.

• Complete information and an opportunity to appeal for voters whose names have been removed.

• Timely access for political parties to electoral rolls and relevant data in a simple format.

• Independent investigation of serious discrepancies within a fixed timeframe.

• Greater transparency around election-related data and decision-making.

Kharge said the objective was to ensure that voters have confidence that their votes are secure.

Congress targets Gyanesh Kumar

Kharge also renewed the Congress's demand for the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of acting as a “puppet” of the government.

He questioned the Election Commission's decision-making process surrounding SIR and referred to reported differences among election commissioners. The Election Commission, however, has said that operational questions raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi were part of normal institutional deliberations and that its decisions followed established procedures.

The controversy has intensified following reports of disagreements within the poll panel over aspects of the electoral-roll revision exercise.

Form 6 changes also questioned

Kharge also criticised changes concerning Form 6, which is used for enrolling new voters.

He compared the current situation with the 1988 decision during the Rajiv Gandhi government to lower India's voting age from 21 to 18. Kharge alleged that the revised rules could make it harder for young people to enter the electoral rolls.

The Election Commission has defended the legality of its procedures, while the Congress has called for greater transparency over how the changes were introduced.

Rahul Gandhi's ‘vote chori’ claims backed

Kharge also backed Rahul Gandhi's allegations concerning voter rolls, referring to claims involving duplicate voters, questionable addresses, multiple registrations at the same address and other discrepancies.

The Congress has used these allegations to demand greater scrutiny of the electoral-roll process. The Election Commission has disputed the broader characterisation of its work and said its procedures have legal sanction.

INDIA bloc meeting next

The CWC meeting comes ahead of a meeting of INDIA bloc opposition parties scheduled for September 30, where leaders are expected to discuss a joint strategy over SIR and the demand for action against the CEC.

The Congress is seeking greater disclosure of electoral-roll data and mechanisms through which voters can challenge deletions. The Election Commission, meanwhile, maintains that its revision process operates within the legal framework governing elections.

The SIR controversy is therefore set to remain a major political and institutional issue as opposition parties prepare to coordinate their response.