Opposition will step up agitation, demand fresh elections using ballot paper: Kharge

Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said on Saturday that the Opposition will step up agitation against the Election Commission of India and demand fresh elections using ballot papers in States where elections were held post SIR process.

Mr. Kharge described the Narendra Modi-led Union government as an “illegal government” and demanded that it go, alleging that the democratic and constitutional rights of people were being undermined.

Speaking to media representatives at his residence in Kalaburagi, Mr. Kharge said the Opposition had chalked out a six-point programme to intensify its campaign against the Election Commission and to protect the voting rights of citizens.

He levelled allegations concerning the functioning of the Election Commission and the conduct of recent elections. He alleged that there had been attempts to influence the criteria relating to voters and claimed that EVMs had been manipulated.

“The recent elections conducted following the SIR process were not legitimate. All the Assemblies which were elected after the SIR process should be dissolved and fresh elections should be conducted using ballot papers,” he said.

On the future course of action of his party, Mr. Kharge said that the Congress will support the agitation by students against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, hold protests across States against the CEC, create awareness among people, and pursue a legal battle.

Recalling the introduction of universal adult franchise, Mr. Kharge said B.R. Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru had ensured voting rights for adults, including the poor and common people. “Nobody cared for poor people. When they got the vote, every party started going to their houses and seeking their votes. The poor got some value because of the constitutionally guaranteed right of adult franchise,” he said.

Mr. Kharge alleged that the government was now attempting to take away this right, particularly from people who were unaware of the importance of their voting rights.

Referring to the 2023 legislation concerning the Election Commission, Mr. Kharge alleged that the law had provided immunity to the Commission and made it difficult to question its decisions or initiate action against its members even in cases of alleged illegality.