Kharge Lists CEC Resignation, SIR Rollback and Ballot Papers as Congress Demands

In a post on X, Kharge said the Congress was seeking the removal of the CEC, withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a return to ballot-paper voting.

He said Congress workers and INDIA bloc parties were holding protests in different parts of the country over the three issues and extended support to civil society groups and youth organisations campaigning on the same concerns.

The opposition parties have alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and questioned the functioning of the Election Commission. The poll panel has maintained that the electoral roll revision is part of the established process for updating and verifying voter lists.

Kharge also criticised the BJP over allegations made by three women journalists who said they were subjected to sexual misconduct by Delhi Police personnel while being detained during an anti-CEC protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday.

The Congress chief condemned the alleged treatment of the journalists and accused the BJP of using distraction tactics amid the political controversy.

Delhi Police said on Sunday that the complaints filed by the three journalists had been transferred to the Crime Branch for an impartial investigation.

The dispute over the Election Commission has also triggered protests in Maharashtra, where Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray jointly led the 'Garjana Morcha' in Mumbai, demanding changes in the electoral process and opposing the SIR exercise.

The BJP and Shiv Sena criticised the Mumbai demonstration, describing it as political posturing and questioning the opposition parties' position on the issue.

The controversy over the ECI, SIR and the use of electronic voting machines versus ballot papers continues to remain a major political issue, with opposition parties stepping up protests across several states.