Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has intensified his party’s criticism of the Election Commission over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Speaking at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in New Delhi on September 29, Kharge accused the poll panel of failing to ensure adequate transparency and called for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Kharge alleged that the functioning of the Election Commission had raised serious concerns about the transparency of the electoral process. He also accused Kumar of favouring the ruling party, a claim that the Congress has repeatedly made during its campaign against the SIR exercise.
Five Demands Raised by Kharge
Kharge outlined five demands focused on electoral-roll transparency and voter rights.
The Congress has sought the public disclosure of data related to major changes in electoral rolls. It also demanded that voters whose names have been removed should receive information about the deletion and have a clear opportunity to appeal.
Another demand was that political parties should receive electoral rolls and relevant information in a simple format and within the prescribed timeframe. Kharge further called for independent and time-bound investigations wherever serious irregularities are identified.
The fifth demand centred on greater transparency in the election process so that political parties and voters can access necessary information without concerns about it being withheld.
Congress Steps Up Attack Over SIR
The SIR exercise has become a major point of confrontation between the Congress and the Election Commission. The opposition party has raised questions about deletions and additions in voter lists, the use of Form 6 for new voter enrolment and the process through which electoral-roll decisions are being taken.
Kharge also backed concerns earlier raised by Rahul Gandhi regarding alleged duplicate voters, questionable addresses and other discrepancies in electoral rolls. The Congress has said such issues require greater scrutiny from the poll panel.
Election Commission Rejects Claims of Internal Rift
The Election Commission has maintained that its decisions have legal backing and that differences of opinion during internal deliberations do not necessarily indicate a breakdown within the institution. The poll panel has also stated that decisions relating to the SIR process were taken according to established procedures and with the participation of the commissioners.
This response contrasts with the Congress’s interpretation of reported differences within the Commission. The dispute over the SIR process therefore remains both a political and institutional issue, with questions surrounding electoral transparency at its centre.
Issue Likely to Continue in Parliament
Kharge said the Congress would continue raising the matter in Parliament as well as through public campaigns. The party has been demanding greater transparency in voter-roll revisions and has also sought Kumar’s removal.
With the SIR controversy continuing to generate political debate, the Election Commission’s handling of voter-list revisions is likely to remain an important national current-affairs issue in the coming days.
