2 days ago
Kharge Calls Elections Illegal, Demands Dissolution and Paper Ballots
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he believes India’s elections are not being conducted fairly.
He called for fresh elections and asked that they use paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines.
He also criticized a government process that checks and updates voter lists.
Kharge alleged that mistakes or unfair changes could keep some people from voting.
He said this could especially hurt people who have fewer resources to fix problems with their records.
He also criticized a law about the Election Commission, saying it reduced accountability.
Kharge said opposition lawmakers would protest in New Delhi on October 6.
These claims and criticisms were made by Kharge; the article does not include a response from the government or Election Commission.
Mallikarjun Kharge demanded dissolving the Lok Sabha and state assemblies and holding fresh elections using paper ballots.
He alleged that electronic voting machines were being misused and that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls had irregularities.
Kharge said the voter-roll exercise could harm poor people, workers, minorities, Dalits and other disadvantaged groups.
He criticized the 2023 law governing the Election Commission, alleging it weakened accountability for the chief election commissioner and election commissioners.
Kharge said opposition MPs would march to the Election Commission in New Delhi on October 6 and that protests would continue.
- Who
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and opposition MPs.
- What
- Kharge called for dissolving the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, fresh elections using paper ballots, and protests against alleged electoral irregularities.
- Where
- Kharge spoke in Kalaburagi, Karnataka; the planned march was in New Delhi.
- When
- Kharge made the remarks on Saturday, October 3; an opposition march was planned for October 6.
- Why
- Kharge alleged misuse of electronic voting machines and irregularities in the electoral-roll revision process, which he said could undermine democracy and disadvantage voters.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president
- Location of remarks
- Kalaburagi, Karnataka
- Proposed election method
- Paper ballots
- Electoral-roll process criticized
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
- Opposition meeting cited
- An INDIA bloc meeting on September 30, attended by members of 20 parties and their legal cell
- Planned protest
- Opposition MPs were expected to march to the Election Commission in New Delhi on October 6
- Law cited
- The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023
Quotes
Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress president speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi.
“What can we do legally? The law is with them, the judiciary is in their hands. The CEC and the Election Commission are in their hands. The machine is being operated by them. It is operating according to their instructions. Votes are being changed at their behest. That is why Modi and Shah should first get out through this democracy.”
theprint.in
“Today, the entire country is being run on illegal elections. Modi is an illegal Prime Minister, Shah is an illegal minister, and all the chief ministers who have been elected anywhere are illegal. All of them should be dissolved, elections should be held, and elections should be conducted through ballot papers.”
theprint.in
Sources
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