ECI-SIR Row: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday listed five demands from the Election Commission of India (ECI) amid the ongoing row over the alleged internal conflict within the poll body. While citing the Indian Express report, Kharge stated that two election commissioners objected to the steps taken by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. While seeking more transparency and clarity, the Congress veteran demanded the resignation of Kumar and those involved in the alleged wrongdoing.
Congress' Five Demands
- The complete data on every major change in the voter list must be made public
- Voters whose names got removed during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters list must be given full information and opportunity to challenge the decision
- The poll body must provide voter list and related essential data to the political parties in a simple format in a timely manner
- There must be an independent and time-bound probe if evidence of serious discrepancies comes to light
- Transparency must be maintained in the crucial data and decisions related to the election process to ensure fairness
What Did Kharge Say?
In a detailed post on X, the Congress president alleged that the NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has weakened the institutions in the last 12 years. While drawing parallel with the British era, Kharge stated that the Congress will not let the BJP snatch the rights of the voters. "People's names are being removed from the voter list, and the Chief Election Commissioner has become a puppet of the Modi government," Kharge alleged.
Kharge Praises RaGa
Kharge also praised senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue and persisting with his demands of removal of the chief election commissioner. Amid the serious allegations, the poll body has clarified that all the decisions related to the revision process was taken mutually, further calling the media reports incomplete.