Kharge demands CEC resignation over electoral roll controversies

Kharge argued that the principle of one person, one vote is under siege, pointing to the alleged removal of 13.3 crore citizens from voter lists as evidence of a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise the electorate. He urged a return to pre-revision rolls and called for institutional accountability, noting that the Election Commission must function with the impartiality envisioned under Article 324 of the Constitution. The Congress leader further targeted the integrity of the current leadership, highlighting that fellow commissioners have reportedly written to the Chief Election Commissioner 14 times in ten months.

Beyond personnel changes, the opposition alliance is pushing for a return to paper ballots, citing persistent concerns over the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines and procedural hurdles in voter registration. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh echoed these sentiments, framing the coalition’s efforts as a defense against government-led interference in electoral integrity. The meeting brought together leaders from nearly 20 parties, including the SP, AITC, and NCP, to formalize a unified strategy aimed at challenging the current electoral management practices.