A SECOND STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY: KHARGE DEMANDS END TO SIR AND RETURN TO PAPER BALLOTS IN EVERY ELECTION

October 25, 2026

NEW DELHI, October 25, 2026 — Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has called for an end to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanded the restoration of paper ballots for all elections, framing the dispute over electoral procedures as a wider struggle to protect democratic rights and public confidence in India’s voting system.

Kharge described the moment as a “second war of independence”, using the phrase to emphasise what he considers the importance of defending constitutional democracy and ensuring that elections remain transparent, accessible and credible. His remarks place the Congress’s objections to the SIR exercise within a broader political campaign over electoral administration and voting methods.

The Special Intensive Revision has become a contentious issue between the Congress and the Election Commission of India. The exercise involves reviewing electoral rolls, with the stated purpose of improving their accuracy. However, Opposition parties have raised concerns about the process, its implementation and the possibility that eligible voters could face difficulties in remaining on the electoral register.

The Congress has argued that electoral-roll revision must not undermine citizens’ voting rights. Kharge’s demand to end the current SIR exercise reflects the party’s opposition to the way the process is being conducted and its call for stronger safeguards around voter registration.

At an event marking the 139th birth anniversary of Krishna Singh, Bihar’s first chief minister, Kharge called for the annulment of Assembly elections held over the preceding two years. He alleged that electoral manipulation had taken place in West Bengal, Haryana, Bihar and Maharashtra, and argued that governments formed through what he termed “vote chori” should be removed. These allegations represent the Congress president’s political position and have not, by themselves, established electoral wrongdoing.

Kharge urged people to take to the streets to defend their voting rights and the Constitution. His remarks reflect the Congress’s continuing campaign against the SIR exercise and its demand for changes to the electoral system. The party has argued that the Election Commission must provide greater transparency about additions and deletions from voter lists and ensure that eligible citizens are not excluded through administrative procedures.

The demand to restore paper ballots is another central element of Kharge’s position. He argued that elections should return to ballot papers to improve transparency and rebuild public confidence. The proposal would mark a major departure from India’s current system, which relies on electronic voting machines. The Congress has repeatedly questioned the existing arrangements, while the debate continues over electoral safeguards, verification procedures and the most effective means of maintaining confidence in election results.

Kharge also accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party of pursuing an ideology that, in his view, deepens social divisions. He called for unity and said that equality, constitutional values and social harmony must remain central to public life. His criticism formed part of a broader argument that political and electoral disputes cannot be separated from questions of citizenship, equal rights and the protection of democratic institutions.

Addressing the legacy of Krishna Singh, Kharge recalled the former Bihar chief minister’s role in developing institutions and promoting agriculture, industry, education and irrigation. He contrasted that legacy with contemporary political alignments, criticising Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar for aligning with the BJP despite his earlier association with socialist leaders such as Ram Manohar Lohia and Jayaprakash Narayan.

The Congress president also called for action against untouchability and practices described as suddhikaran, or purification, when used to reinforce caste-based exclusion. He said Dalits must have the right to enter and worship at every temple in the country without discrimination. Kharge stressed that his criticism was directed at discrimination committed in the name of religion, rather than religion itself, arguing that faith should unite people instead of becoming a basis for exclusion.

He further criticised the filing of a first information report against Rahul Gandhi following the latter’s visit to Haldwani to protest an alleged incident involving suddhikaran. Kharge questioned whether those challenging discriminatory practices were being given sufficient space to raise their concerns.

The combination of electoral reform demands and calls for action against caste discrimination reflects the wider themes of Kharge’s address. He presented the protection of voting rights, equal treatment and constitutional principles as interconnected concerns, urging people to participate in public action rather than remain passive in the face of disputed political developments.

The Congress’s proposals, particularly the return to paper ballots and the annulment of recent Assembly elections, would require substantial political and institutional consideration. Its allegations concerning electoral manipulation remain contested, and the claims must be distinguished from findings established through formal investigations or legal proceedings.

For now, Kharge’s speech signals the party’s intention to continue its campaign against the SIR exercise and to make electoral transparency a central issue in its political mobilisation. By invoking a “second war of independence”, he sought to portray the current debate as a struggle over the principles governing democratic participation, constitutional accountability and equal citizenship.

The immediate political challenge will be whether the competing claims about voter registration and electoral procedures can be addressed through transparent disclosures, credible scrutiny and institutional processes that command public confidence. At the centre of the dispute lies a fundamental question: how can India ensure that every eligible citizen’s vote is protected and that the legitimacy of elections rests on a process the public can trust?