Congress chief demands CEC resignation, SIR repeal and paper ballots
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the party’s three non-negotiable demands are the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the annulment of the Special Intensive Revision process and a shift to ballot-paper voting.
Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Congress party, outlined three demands he described as non-negotiable: the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, and the conduct of upcoming elections using ballot paper instead of electronic voting machines. He said Congress activists and partners in the INDIA alliance are taking to the streets nationwide over these issues.
Kharge also accused the BJP of harassing female journalists in Delhi, calling the behavior condemnable. The call for the CEC’s resignation comes after one outlet reported that commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected at least 14 times to SIR decisions made without their input. The Election Commission responded that differing views are normal and that all its orders have full legal sanction. Kharge reiterated Congress’s solidarity with civil-society groups and youth organisations fighting the same causes.
Why it matters
The demands target India's election machinery, potentially affecting the credibility of upcoming polls.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report the same three demands and Kharge’s accusation against the BJP, but the right-leaning coverage adds a detail about one outlet's report of commissioners objecting to the SIR process.
CENTER
Center coverage frames the story as Kharge’s presentation of non-negotiable election reforms and a condemnation of BJP harassment of female journalists.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage frames the story as Kharge’s demand list, emphasizing the resignation call and noting one outlet's report of internal objections to the SIR process.
The right emphasises
- non-negotiable demands
- call for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
- cites one outlet's report of commissioners objecting to SIR decisions
How this story developed
- Sep 23 Election Commission denies internal dissent, says all decisions were unanimous
- Sep 23 Congress senior filed a petition urging the Supreme Court to intervene and summon the Election Commission members.
- Sep 25 A Supreme Court petition seeking criminal prosecution of the chief election commissioner was filed.
- Sep 26 The Election Commission announced that Booth Level Officers will visit voters flagged in the SIR to collect supporting documents, with online hearings and additional help desks to be established.
- Sep 27 Opposition parties announced nationwide rallies and a parliamentary motion to force the CEC’s resignation following the removal of over 130 million voter names.
- Oct 2 The Cockroach Janata Party and a coalition of student activists will protest in Mumbai and New Delhi, calling for Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to step down over disputed voter-list changes.
- Oct 2 The Supreme Court agreed to hear a petition questioning the Election Commission’s decision‑making next week.
- Oct 5 Delhi police deployed roughly 5,000 officers and paramilitary units ahead of two anti‑CEC marches.
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