INDIA bloc seeks CEC's removal, end to SIR in four-point memorandum to President

A 10-member delegation of INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday evening and submitted a four-point memorandum demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and sweeping changes to the country's electoral system.

The memorandum called for an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, restoration of ballot-paper voting in place of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and a review of Assembly elections conducted over the past two years, alleging widespread electoral manipulation.

The Opposition also sought the restoration of 13.30 crore voters it claimed had been deleted from electoral rolls and demanded changes to the legal framework governing the Election Commission.

The meeting marked an escalation of the INDIA bloc's campaign against the Election Commission following three consecutive days of demonstrations in the national capital, during which several Opposition leaders, including Gandhi, were detained by police.

Four major demands

The memorandum, details of which were disclosed following the meeting, outlined four principal demands aimed at what the Opposition described as restoring public confidence in the electoral process.

First, the alliance sought the removal of Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner, alleging that the Election Commission had failed to discharge its constitutional responsibilities impartially.

Second, it demanded an immediate suspension of the SIR exercise, claiming that the revision of electoral rolls had resulted in the exclusion of millions of legitimate voters. The Opposition called for the restoration of names it alleged had been wrongfully deleted.

Third, the bloc demanded that future elections be conducted using paper ballots instead of EVMs, citing concerns over the transparency and credibility of electronic voting.

Fourth, it sought a review of Assembly elections held during the previous two years in states where it claimed to possess evidence of electoral irregularities. The memorandum went further by seeking the reversal of results in elections where manipulation was conclusively established.

The allegations of electoral manipulation remain contested and have not been established by the memorandum itself.

Opposition seeks repeal of 2023 law

The memorandum also demanded the repeal of provisions in the 2023 law that the Opposition said granted lifelong immunity to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.

It accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Kumar of undermining the electoral process, alleging manipulation of EVMs and electoral rolls in several states, including Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Delhi and West Bengal.

The Election Commission has rejected allegations of impropriety and maintained that its decisions follow established legal procedures. The Opposition's claims of widespread electoral manipulation have not been independently established.

President sought evidence, says Rahul

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gandhi said President Murmu had asked the delegation to provide evidence supporting its allegations of electoral manipulation.

Gandhi interpreted the President's response as significant, saying he had expected her to reject the allegations outright. However, a request for evidence does not amount to confirmation of the Opposition's claims.

Kharge said the alliance was compiling the relevant material and would submit it to the President. Banerjee also described the meeting positively and said the Opposition remained united in its campaign.

Opposition to approach Supreme Court

Gandhi announced that INDIA bloc leaders would approach the Supreme Court on Monday and seek to submit the memorandum to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.

The announcement indicated that the Opposition intended to pursue the issue through judicial channels alongside its continuing political campaign.

The meeting followed three days of demonstrations in Delhi against Kumar and the SIR exercise, during which Opposition MPs attempted to march towards the Election Commission and Jantar Mantar before gathering at Rajghat on Thursday.

The INDIA bloc has maintained that its agitation will continue until its concerns over electoral transparency and accountability are addressed.