New Delhi, 26 October (H.S.): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has accused the government of employing every possible tactic to protect Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that concerns over voter list irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process have not been adequately addressed.

Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that the Election Commission had refused to disclose information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act about the software used in the SIR exercise, classifying it as a “trade secret”. He alleged that the government was attempting to shield the Chief Election Commissioner despite what he described as repeated revelations concerning alleged voter fraud.

In a post on social media platform X, Mallikarjun Kharge referred to voter list-related issues in Uttar Pradesh and alleged that details of 16.18 lakh Form 6 applications had not been made public. He also flagged alleged irregularities involving 10,470 voter records in Pilibhit.

Mallikarjun Kharge said orders were now needed to scrutinise Forms 6, 7 and 8 in Uttar Pradesh. These forms are used for matters relating to voter registration, objections or deletion of names, and corrections or changes to entries in electoral rolls.

The Congress president demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for the withdrawal of the 2023 law that, he alleged, provides protection to the office-holder. He also called for the immediate suspension of the SIR exercise and the restoration of names allegedly removed unlawfully from electoral rolls.

Mallikarjun Kharge further demanded that all elections be conducted using paper ballots rather than electronic voting machines.

Appealing to citizens to join the party’s campaign, Kharge urged people to gather at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1 for the ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ march and mega rally. He called on the public to participate in the campaign and raise concerns relating to electoral rolls and the election process.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar