Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday stepped up his criticism of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, calling for his immediate removal and raising questions over the functioning of the Election Commission.
Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Kharge accused the CEC of acting in a manner that, according to him, benefits the ruling BJP. He also referred to reported differences within the Election Commission over decisions connected with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Kharge cited reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions over decisions and orders relating to SIR and other electoral matters. According to reports cited by Congress, the objections covered issues including voter deletions, Form 6 and access to electoral-roll databases.
The Election Commission, however, has rejected the suggestion that such exchanges represented institutional dissent over final decisions. The poll body has said that operational queries, inputs and suggestions during the draft stage are part of its normal administrative and decision-making process.
At the CWC meeting, Kharge also placed five key demands before the Election Commission. He demanded that complete data concerning changes in electoral rolls be made public and that voters whose names have been deleted be given an opportunity to appeal.
He further called for political parties to receive electoral rolls in a simple and accessible format within adequate time. Kharge also demanded an independent and time-bound investigation wherever serious irregularities are found.
His fifth demand was for greater transparency in the electoral process. Kharge said the system should function in a way that ensures voters and political parties do not feel that important information is being withheld.
The Congress president also questioned changes related to Form 6, which is used in the electoral-roll process, and alleged that such changes could affect young voters. He described the changes as unconstitutional, while maintaining that the Congress's larger concern was the protection of voters' rights.
Kharge also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the Election Commission had come under pressure from the government. He called for the Prime Minister to resign on what he described as moral grounds. These allegations are part of the ongoing political dispute between the Congress and the government over the functioning of the poll panel.
The controversy comes as opposition parties have repeatedly raised concerns over the SIR exercise and electoral-roll changes. The Election Commission has maintained that its actions are governed by the existing legal and constitutional framework.
Kharge said the Congress's campaign was not directed against any particular political party or institution but was aimed at protecting voters' rights, the Constitution and the democratic system.
He also backed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who has previously raised allegations regarding voter-list changes. Kharge said the Congress would continue to demand an Election Commission that is independent and credible, arguing that both ruling and opposition parties should have confidence in its decisions.
The Supreme Court is also scheduled to hear a plea concerning decisions attributed to the Chief Election Commissioner next week, adding another legal dimension to the wider debate over the Election Commission's decision-making process.
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