Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has set out three demands concerning the electoral process: the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the use of ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines.
Kharge described these demands as non-negotiable on Monday, October 5. His remarks come amid a dispute over the Election Commission’s handling of the SIR process and a newspaper report about objections reportedly recorded by two election commissioners.
Congress Sets Out Three Electoral Demands
Kharge said Congress workers and INDIA bloc partners were protesting across the country over the three issues. He also expressed support for civil society groups and youth organisations campaigning on the same concerns.
The Congress chief’s statement brings together the party’s objections to the leadership of the Election Commission, the electoral roll revision exercise and the voting system. By describing the demands as non-negotiable, he signalled that they remain central to the party’s campaign on electoral accountability. His call for ballot paper elections represents a demand to replace EVM-based voting. The statement, however, does not announce any change to the existing election process.
Reported SIR Objections Intensify the Dispute
The latest criticism follows an Indian Express report concerning Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. According to the account cited by PTI, the two commissioners recorded objections at least 14 times over the previous 10 months regarding decisions and orders connected to SIR.
The newspaper report said their objections concerned measures allegedly issued without their knowledge or recommendation. These reported differences have become a focal point of the political dispute surrounding the revision exercise. The allegations remain distinct from the Election Commission’s position on the legality and procedures governing its orders.
Election Commission Defends Its Procedures
Responding to the controversy, the Election Commission said differing views and observations are part of institutional deliberations. It maintained that all its orders have full legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.
The commission’s response addresses questions about its decision-making process, while Congress continues to press its political demands. The supplied report does not indicate that the commission has accepted Kharge’s calls for cancelling SIR or switching to ballot papers.
Kharge also accused the BJP of harassing female journalists in Delhi and condemned the alleged conduct. He further alleged that the government would use diversionary tactics. The supplied report does not provide details of the journalist-related incident or a BJP response to that accusation.
