At the CWC session on 29 September, Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Election Commission of acting as a puppet of the Modi government, citing widespread deletions and discrepancies in voter rolls that could undermine the democratic process. The meeting, held in New Delhi, coincided with the Congress’s preparations for elections in five states scheduled for later this year. Kharge warned that the right to vote, a hard‑won democratic privilege, is now under threat because of alleged arbitrary removals from the electoral rolls.
He invoked Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s 1946 remarks in the Constituent Assembly, arguing that voter names cannot be stripped at the whim of a single officer. Kharge also pointed to recent changes in the Form 6 rules, alleging they were designed to disenfranchise young voters. The president cited data irregularities in Mahadevapura, Aland, Haryana and Maharashtra, where duplicate registrations, questionable addresses and multiple voters at one address were reported.
The party outlined five demands aimed at restoring transparency: first, full public disclosure of all major changes to voter lists. Second, an official appeal process for voters whose names have been deleted. Third, timely, party‑friendly access to voter data in a simple format. Fourth, independent, time‑bound investigations whenever serious discrepancies arise. Fifth, greater transparency over electoral data and decision‑making.
Kharge stressed that the Congress is not targeting any individual or institution, but defending the Constitution and the democratic system. He called on the Election Commission to be credible enough for both the ruling party and the opposition to trust its decisions. With elections looming in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, safeguarding voter rights has become a national priority.
The CWC will convene its next meeting to decide whether to lodge a formal complaint with the Election Commission. If the demands remain unmet, the party is ready to pursue judicial intervention to protect the franchise.