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Kharge Demands CEC Removal, Modi Resignation Over Electoral Rolls
Mallikarjun Kharge leads the Congress party in India.
He says the country’s election officials have not handled voter lists fairly.
He accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of helping the ruling BJP.
He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressured the election official.
Kharge wants the CEC removed and Modi to resign.
Congress wants information about voter-list changes to be made public.
It also wants deleted voters to be allowed to appeal.
The Election Commission says questions raised by its commissioners were part of normal administrative work, not institutional disagreement.
Congress says it will keep raising the issue in Parliament and through public protests.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s immediate removal.
Kharge also called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation on moral grounds.
He alleged electoral-roll irregularities, voter deletions, and pressure on the Election Commission.
Congress listed five demands, including public data, appeals, accessible rolls, and independent investigations.
Kharge said Congress would raise the issue in Parliament and take protests to the streets.
- Who
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress party, and the Election Commission.
- What
- Kharge demanded Kumar’s removal and Modi’s resignation while calling for greater transparency and investigations into alleged electoral-roll irregularities.
- Where
- At the Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi.
- When
- Tuesday, during a Congress Working Committee meeting; the reports also refer to September 29.
- Why
- Kharge alleged that voter names were being removed, electoral information was being withheld, and the poll panel was pressured or acting in favor of the ruling BJP.
Congress’s allegations
Election Commission’s response
CEC’s conduct
Congress’s allegations
Kharge called Gyanesh Kumar a “puppet” of the Modi government and demanded his immediate removal, alleging that his actions benefited the ruling party.
Election Commission’s response
The Election Commission rejected the suggestion that objections raised by other commissioners represented institutional dissent over final decisions.
Internal objections
Congress’s allegations
Kharge cited reports that Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu had described some CEC decisions as arbitrary, improper, or unreasonable.
Election Commission’s response
The poll body said operational queries, inputs, and suggestions during the draft stage were part of its standard administrative and decision-making process.
Electoral-roll transparency
Congress’s allegations
Congress demanded publication of data on major voter-list changes, appeal opportunities for deleted voters, timely access to simple-format rolls, independent investigations, and greater transparency.
Election Commission’s response
The Election Commission’s stated position, as reported, is that the cited exchanges were administrative inputs rather than evidence of concealed or improperly decided information.
Key facts
- Congress president
- Mallikarjun Kharge
- Chief Election Commissioner
- Gyanesh Kumar
- Main demand
- Immediate removal of the CEC
- Additional demand
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation on moral grounds
- Congress demands
- Five measures concerning electoral-roll data, appeals, access, investigations, and transparency
- Political response
- Congress said it would raise the issue in Parliament and take to the streets
- Election Commission response
- The poll body said commissioners’ questions and suggestions were part of standard administrative and decision-making processes
Quotes
Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress president speaking about electoral transparency and voter protections
“The two Election Commissioners have themselves termed the CEC’s actions as ‘arbitrary and unreasonable’ and the entire nation now knows that he has been trying to help the ruling party. In such a situation, he does not have the right to be in his position and should be removed immediately.”
indianexpress.com
theprint.in
“We should take a pledge at the CWC meeting that there should be transparency in electoral rolls and the poll process should be impartial. Institutions should be independent and the vote of every Indian should be protected.”
indianexpress.com
theprint.in
Sources
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