Kharge Issues 3 Non-Negotiable Demands Amid Election Commission Rift

• by Akanksha Mishra
• 2026-10-05 15:00:00

Launching an aggressive political offensive against the central government and the institutional integrity of the poll watchdog, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday, October 5, 2026, tabled three "non-negotiable" demands to overhaul the country's voting apparatus. Addressing the press from the national capital, Kharge demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the complete abolition of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and the mandatory return to traditional paper ballots in place of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The Congress chief's sharp attack follows explosive investigative revelations reporting deep fractures within the three-member Election Commission of India (ECI), where two fellow Election Commissioners allegedly registered formal dissents on multiple occasions against unilateral operational diktats.

The Three 'Non-Negotiable' Demands: Opposition Mobilizes Street Protests Across India

Framing the electoral crisis as an existential battle for democratic transparency, Mallikarjun Kharge outlined the party's core ultimatums:

Immediate Resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar: Calling out what he characterized as arbitrary and unilateral functioning at the helm of the poll body, Kharge demanded that the Chief Election Commissioner step down from his constitutional post immediately.

Scrapping the Special Intensive Revision (SIR): The Congress leadership demanded an outright cessation of the ongoing SIR exercise across state voter registries, alleging that the revision protocols risk disenfranchising legitimate citizens through administrative overreach.

Return to Paper Ballots Over EVMs: Reinvigorating the opposition's long-standing skepticism regarding electronic balloting, Kharge demanded that all future state and parliamentary elections be conducted strictly through verifiable physical paper ballots.

Unified Street Mobilization: The Congress president stated that party cadres alongside partner constituents of the INDIA bloc are hitting the streets across multiple states, forging common ground with youth outfits and civil society organizations resisting roll revisions.

Internal Fissures Exposed: Disagreements Over 14 SIR Orders in 10 Months

The opposition's onslaught gained massive momentum following leaks detailing procedural disputes within Nirvachan Sadan:

Objections by Fellow Commissioners: Scrutiny exploded after an investigative report revealed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally recorded written objections against orders concerning SIR guidelines, technology platforms, and roll management at least 14 separate times over the past 10 months.

Bypassing the Multi-Member Mandate: The dissenting commissioners reportedly recorded that several critical policy circulars and operational notifications were issued without their advance knowledge, collegiate concurrence, or formal recommendation.

CEC Under Fire: Opposition leaders argued that the disclosures substantiate long-standing allegations that the multi-member constitutional watchdog was being run through individual decree rather than institutional consensus or majority decisions.

Election Commission Pushes Back: Defends Statutory Process and Institutional Debate

In response to the mounting political firestorm, the Election Commission moved swiftly to defend its internal workings:

Legitimacy of Diverse Internal Views: Nirvachan Sadan issued a rebuttal clarifying that internal debates, divergent perspectives, and formal disagreements represent a healthy, indispensable feature of collegiate governance inside any democratic institution.

Full Legal Compliance: The Commission maintained that every circular, notification, and policy order issued under its seal remains entirely lawful, having been executed strictly in accordance with statutory procedures and constitutional mandates.

Rejection of Undue Interference: Electoral authorities asserted that internal administrative deliberations cannot be distorted to cast aspersions on the constitutional commission's operational independence.

Sharp Attack on BJP Over Intimidation: Allegations of Diverting Public Scrutiny

Broadening his critique of governance under the ruling dispensation, Kharge took aim at recent intimidation tactics in the national capital:

Condemning Harassment of Female Journalists: The Congress president strongly condemned the alleged targeted harassment of women journalists in New Delhi, characterizing it as a flagrant assault on press freedom.

Allegations of Distraction Tactics: Kharge alleged that the ruling regime is operating in deep administrative panic, warning citizens that new communal and political diversionary ploys will be unleashed to distract public attention from the electoral crisis.

Stand with Independent Civil Voices: Reaffirming the party's alignment with rights groups, Kharge emphasized that the Congress party stands shoulder-to-shoulder with independent watchdogs, legal defenders, and citizen activists fighting to preserve constitutional safeguards.

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