Kharge says Opposition will seek fresh polls with paper ballots after SIR

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition would intensify its campaign against the Election Commission of India and demand fresh elections using ballot papers in States where polls were held after the SIR process. Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi on Saturday, Kharge called for all Assemblies elected after the process to be dissolved and for fresh elections. He described the Narendra Modi-led Union government as “illegal” and alleged that democratic and constitutional rights were being undermined.

Kharge said the Opposition had prepared a six-point programme to intensify its campaign against the Election Commission and protect citizens’ voting rights. He alleged attempts to influence voter criteria and claimed that electronic voting machines had been manipulated. The Congress president said his party would support student protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, organise demonstrations across States, raise public awareness and pursue legal action.

He also referred to the introduction of universal adult franchise and said the right to vote had given poorer citizens greater political value. Kharge alleged that the government was now trying to take that right away, particularly from people who were unaware of its importance. Kharge criticised the 2023 legislation concerning the Election Commission.

He alleged that it granted the Commission immunity and made it difficult to question its decisions or take action against members even when illegality was alleged. The supplied report presents Kharge’s statements and does not include a response from the Election Commission or the Union government. It also provides no independent confirmation of the allegations concerning voter criteria, EVMs or the legitimacy of elections held after the SIR process.