Kharge Issues Triple Ultimatum: CEC Resignation, Halt SIR Roll Revision, Reinstate Paper Ballots

New Delhi. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has escalated his critique of the Election Commission, laying out three firm conditions that the party says must be satisfied before it can endorse the forthcoming electoral process.

Congress’s Three‑Point Demand

Kharge declared that the party requires Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls be scrapped, and that future polls revert to traditional paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines. In a social‑media statement on Monday, he noted that Congress cadres and allies in the INDIA coalition were staging demonstrations nationwide to press these points.

The leader also pledged solidarity with civil‑society groups and youth movements campaigning for greater transparency in the voting mechanism.

Controversy Over the SIR Roll Revision

This pronouncement arrives amid a widening dispute over the Election Commission’s handling of the SIR exercise. Congress has repeatedly questioned the legality of the roll‑revision drive, alleging that it could reshuffle the electorate to the party’s disadvantage.

Sources indicate that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have lodged objections on several occasions, claiming that certain SIR orders were issued without their knowledge or recommendation. The Commission, however, argues that internal dissent is normal in any large institution and that its directives are grounded in law and established statutory procedures.

Wider Opposition Narrative

Kharge linked the demand for the CEC’s resignation with the party’s broader opposition to the SIR and its call for a return to paper‑ballot voting. He also accused the ruling BJP of harassing female journalists in Delhi, describing the alleged incident as condemnable and suggesting that the government is attempting to shift focus from the larger electoral controversy.

"Our commitment is to a transparent and accountable electoral system," Kharge asserted, adding that Congress will stand with organisations raising concerns about the voting process.

While the Election Commission defends the legality of its actions, the debate over roll revision and voting technology is poised to remain a central issue in the run‑up to the next elections.