Kharge Insists on CEC Resignation, Roll Freeze, and Paper‑Ballot Voting – Congress Issues Unyielding Ultimatum

New Delhi. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has escalated his criticism of the Election Commission, presenting three absolute conditions that the party says must be satisfied before it can endorse the forthcoming electoral process.

A Triple Demand from Congress

Kharge declared that the party expects Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to relinquish his post, that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls be suspended, and that future elections be conducted using conventional paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines. In a social‑media video posted on Monday, he noted that Congress cadres and allies in the INDIA bloc were mobilising protests nationwide to press these demands.

He also pledged solidarity with civil‑society organisations and youth groups campaigning for greater transparency in India’s voting mechanism.

SIR Roll Revision Under Scrutiny

The statement arrives amid a widening controversy surrounding the Election Commission’s handling of the SIR exercise. Congress has repeatedly questioned the legality of the roll‑revision drive, arguing that it could reshape the electorate to the party’s disadvantage.

Media reports indicate that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have lodged objections on several occasions, alleging that certain SIR orders were issued without their knowledge or endorsement. The commission, however, maintains that internal dissent is normal in any large institution and that its directives are grounded in law and established statutory procedures.

Wider Opposition Demands

Kharge linked the call for the CEC’s resignation with the party’s broader opposition to the SIR and its demand for a return to paper‑ballot voting. He also accused the ruling BJP of targeting female journalists in Delhi, describing the alleged incident as reprehensible and suggesting that the government is attempting to shift focus away from the larger electoral controversy.

Congress reaffirmed its readiness to stand alongside organisations raising concerns about electoral transparency, while the Election Commission defended the legality of its actions. As debates over roll revision and voting technology intensify, the dispute is poised to remain a central issue in the run‑up to the next elections.