Gyanesh Kumar raises challenges for Modi, Kharge demands dissolution of all governments
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that the entire country's governance is based on an illegal electoral process.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge raised serious questions about the election process on Saturday, demanding the dissolution of the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies. He alleged that there are questions regarding the legitimacy of elections in the country and targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Ministers of states on the same grounds. Kharge stated that new elections should be conducted using ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
In a conversation with journalists from the news agency UNI, Kharge claimed that,
the governance of the entire country is based on an election process that he considers illegal. He reiterated his demand for the dissolution of elected houses while making sharp comments regarding the elections of the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Chief Ministers.
The Congress President also raised the issue of misuse of EVMs. He mentioned that questions regarding this issue are not only being raised by the opposition but also by “their own people.” However, in the available statement, he did not clarify whom he was referring to. He identified conducting elections using ballot papers as his primary demand.
Kharge alleged several irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of the Electoral Roll (SIR). According to him, the mistakes occurring in this process are weakening democracy and affecting the poor, laborers, less educated individuals, and especially minorities. He stated that the opposition will continue its movement across the country against the alleged misuse of SIR and the election process.
He mentioned the INDIA alliance meeting that took place on September 30, stating that representatives from 20 parties and their legal cells participated. According to Kharge, all parties present at the meeting agreed that the current process of SIR is not in the interest of the country and marginalized sections.
Regarding the removal of names from the electoral roll, Kharge said that,
if the names of 500 voters are removed from a booth, how can free and fair elections be ensured? He also alleged that efforts are now being made to add names. According to him, people associated with the BJP and RSS are filling out forms to remove the names of those voters whose votes they do not want in wards, panchayats, and villages.
The Congress President stated that the burden of any mistake in the electoral roll falls most heavily on the poor. A wealthy person can manage to get their work done somehow, but a laborer or a poor person has to leave their work and run around offices to correct documents and get their names added back. He alleged that the alleged misuse of the election process is affecting the rights of youth, Dalits, and marginalized communities.
Kharge also questioned the 2023 law related to the appointment and service conditions of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners. He stated that including a central minister in the selection committee by removing the Chief Justice of India has increased the government's influence. According to him, the presence of the Chief Justice along with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition used to provide balance in the selection process. He also criticized the provision of legal protection for election commissioners concerning official work. Kharge claimed that this weakens their accountability. However, his statement contains broad allegations regarding the scope of this protection; these cannot be viewed as an independent interpretation of the law or judicial conclusions.
Citing a report from The Indian Express , Kharge stated that two election commissioners wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner 10 and 14 times respectively, but their objections had no impact. He mentioned that officials cannot speak out openly, but they have expressed their concerns through letters.
As part of the next phase of the movement, Kharge mentioned a large protest in New Delhi on October 6. He stated that,
opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission, and protests will continue in the states as well. He did not make any announcement regarding the boycott of upcoming elections. When asked about the legal route, he raised questions about the independence of institutions and stated that the opposition's job is to raise awareness among the people and demand transparency in the election process.