CONGRESS TURNS UP HEAT ON ELECTION PANEL AS VOTER-ROLL DISPUTE SPARKS WIDER OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN

October 1, 2026

The Congress has intensified its criticism of the electoral process, saying public opposition to what it describes as the “capture” of the electoral system is growing amid the continuing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.

Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh, referring to remarks by former Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat, alleged that the SIR exercise had resulted in the loss of voting rights for nearly 14 crore people. The figure and the broader allegations remain contested political claims.

Rawat has questioned the manner in which the voter-roll revision was conducted and has argued that the scale of deletions represents an unprecedented development since Independence. He also commented on reported differences within the three-member Election Commission over decisions concerning the exercise.

The Congress's latest statements came shortly after INDIA bloc parties agreed to intensify their campaign over alleged irregularities in voter-list revision. The opposition grouping has announced joint demonstrations and rallies and plans to march to the Election Commission in Delhi on October 6.

Opposition parties have also raised demands concerning the restoration of allegedly deleted names, greater transparency in electoral-roll revisions and changes to the voting system. They have called for future elections to be conducted using ballot papers and for legal proceedings concerning the SIR process to be expedited.

The Election Commission has maintained that differences of opinion and observations among its members are part of institutional deliberations. It has also said that its orders have legal validity and are issued in accordance with established statutory procedures.

The dispute is now developing into a broader political and institutional confrontation, with the opposition seeking greater scrutiny of voter-list revisions while the Election Commission continues to defend the legality of its procedures.