Mallikarjun Kharge blasted the Narendra Modi government on Monday for shielding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid a wave of allegations that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls had left 10,470 entries in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, in doubt.
The Congress president slammed the Election Commission of India for refusing to disclose the name and version of the software used in the SIR, citing trade‑secret exemptions under the Right to Information Act. Kharge said the lack of transparency masks systematic manipulation.
Navdeep Rinwa, the UP Chief Electoral Officer, responded by ordering a comprehensive audit of all Form 6, Form 7 and Form 8 applications entered by computer assistants since April 10, the day the SIR wrapped up in the state. The audit aims to catch any irregularities that may have slipped through the review.
Kharge’s demands are clear: resign the CEC, repeal the 2023 law that protects him, halt the SIR immediately, restore removed voters, and revert all elections to paper ballots. He is rallying the INDIA bloc to a march on November 1 at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.
The BJP has dismissed the accusations as political theatrics, while the Samajwadi Party joined the opposition in calling for greater scrutiny of the SIR process.
The next week will see the UP audit unfold, the rally on November 1, and a likely court hearing on whether the 2023 law can be overturned while the CEC’s tenure hangs in the balance.