Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has intensified his party's protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the operational integrity of the election body. During a press conference held in New Delhi on September 30, Kharge announced a planned march to the ECI set for October 6, 2026, asserting that the opposition bloc would advocate for traditional voting methods using ballot papers rather than electronic voting machines (EVMs) and push for the use of pre-SIR electoral rolls in upcoming elections [1].

In a reaffirmation of Congress's stance, Kharge outlined three demands deemed "non-negotiable" during remarks on October 5. These requests include the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the cancellation of the SIR, and the reinstatement of ballot paper voting. Kharge emphasized that these demands are critical and that party workers, along with allies from the INDIA bloc, are actively protesting nationwide on these issues [2].

The controversy surrounding the SIR is fueled by allegations of mismanagement and irregularities. Reports indicate that the Chief Election Commissioner has faced scrutiny over the handling of the SIR process, with two Election Commissioners previously voicing their objections to decisions made during the exercise. Notably, the ECI's withdrawal of the SIR declaration from the voter-enrollment flow on its ECINET portal has further raised alarms regarding transparency and procedural integrity [3].

As the opposition's schedule for protests continues, Kharge has positioned the confrontation as a significant event concerning voter roll integrity and the broader accountability of institutions rather than merely a procedural challenge. The scheduled joint march by the INDIA bloc to the ECI on October 6 aims to draw attention to these critical issues at a time when the integrity of the electoral process is under the spotlight [3].

Kharge's public reaffirmation of Congress's hardline stance on October 5 underscores the escalating tensions between the opposition and the Election Commission, framing the current situation as a pivotal fight for electoral integrity and democratic processes in India. The events leading up to the planned protests reveal a mobilization of opposition forces as they seek to address what they describe as systemic flaws within the electoral framework [2].

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Researched and edited with AI assistance.

Featured image: AI-generated representative image.