Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Kharge Demands Fresh Ballot-Paper Elections, Questions Electoral Process
Mallikarjun Kharge, who leads the Congress party, spoke about elections in Kalaburagi on Saturday.
He said some elections should be held again.
He wants paper ballots to be used instead of electronic voting machines.
Kharge said he believes the current system is not fair.
He also raised concerns about changes to electoral rolls called the Special Intensive Revision.
He referred to concerns he said two Election Commission members had raised.
Kharge said the INDIA bloc plans to hold more campaign programmes across the country.
These programmes are planned for the coming months.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called for dissolving legislatures and holding fresh elections using ballot papers.
Speaking in Kalaburagi on Saturday, he raised concerns about the electoral process and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Kharge cited concerns he said had been raised by two Election Commission members and referred to the IT department's role.
He alleged that electronic voting machines undermine democracy and said paper ballots would ensure free and fair elections.
Kharge said the INDIA bloc would intensify its campaign against the Election Commission and the SIR, with programmes planned across the country in coming months.
- Who
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
- What
- He called for dissolving legislatures and holding fresh elections by ballot paper, while criticizing aspects of the electoral process.
- When
- Saturday; the article does not specify a date.
- Where
- Kalaburagi, India.
- Why
- Kharge said he had concerns about the electoral process, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and alleged irregularities; he argued ballot papers would support free and fair elections.
Kharge's position
Other position in the report
Voting method
Kharge's position
Kharge said EVMs undermine democracy and called for ballot-paper elections to ensure free and fair voting.
Other position in the report
The article does not report a response from the Election Commission or another supporter of EVM voting.
Fresh elections
Kharge's position
Kharge said legislatures should be dissolved and fresh elections held where the alleged incidents occurred.
Other position in the report
The article provides no opposing response or independent finding on the alleged irregularities.
- Speaker
- Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president
- Location
- Kalaburagi
- Election demand
- Dissolve legislatures and hold fresh elections by ballot paper wherever the cited incidents occurred
- Electoral-roll issue
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
- Claims about EVMs
- Kharge said EVMs were cheating and damaging democracy
- Planned campaign
- The INDIA bloc plans programmes across the country in the coming months