Kharge Issues Triple Ultimatum to Election Commission: CEC Resignation, Halt SIR Roll Update, Reinstate Paper Ballots

New Delhi. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has intensified his criticism 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 Ultimatum

Kharge declared that the party insists on the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and the reinstatement of traditional paper ballots in place of electronic voting machines. In a social‑media statement on Monday, he noted that Congress cadres and allies in the INDIA coalition are organising protests nationwide to press these points.

The leader also affirmed Congress’s readiness to back civil‑society movements and youth groups that are campaigning for greater transparency in the voting mechanism.

SIR Roll Revision Faces Growing Scrutiny

This pronouncement arrives amid a widening controversy over the Election Commission’s handling of the SIR exercise. Congress has repeatedly challenged the legality of the roll‑revision, arguing that it could reshape the voter base to the party’s disadvantage.

Sources indicate that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have raised objections on several occasions, claiming that certain SIR orders were issued without their knowledge or recommendation. The Commission, however, maintains that internal dissent is normal and that its directives are legally sound and follow established statutory procedures.

Wider Opposition Demands

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

Congress reiterated its commitment to stand with organisations highlighting concerns about electoral transparency, while the Election Commission defended the legality of its actions. As debates over roll revision and voting technology continue, the clash is poised to remain a pivotal issue in the run‑up to the next elections.