Story perspectives

Kharge Demands Cancel SIR, Resign CEC, Paper Ballots

By Drooid · Oct 5, 2026, 5:26 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Cancel SIR Paper Ballots

On October 5 2026, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced three non-negotiable demands about India’s election process in New Delhi.
He claimed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is irregular, said EVMs are misused, and demanded cancelling the SIR and using paper ballots.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was demanded to resign by Kharge.
Congress workers and INDIA bloc partners staged protests, while Kharge condemned BJP harassment of journalists.

Right

Calls for Dissolution

On October 5 2026 in New Delhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge announced three non-negotiable demands about India’s election process.
Kharge called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other officials “illegal,” prompting the BJP to demand a public apology for insulting the Constitution.
Congress workers and INDIA alliance partners protested in multiple cities after the announcement.
Kharge demanded dissolution of the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies, labeling elected governments illegal.

Blindspot

Kharge said the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is irregular and that electronic voting machines are being misused, as part of his three non-negotiable demands on the election process.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

The Election Commission of India began deploying electronic voting machines in the late 1990s to replace paper ballots. In 2008 it added a totaliser to mask individual booth results, and the Supreme Court’s 2013 order mandated voter-verified paper audit trails, later requiring verification of 2 % of VVPATs in 2019. These steps reflect ongoing concerns over EVM reliability.

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Cancel SIR Paper Ballots

On October 5 2026, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced three non-negotiable demands about India’s election process in New Delhi.
He claimed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is irregular, said EVMs are misused, and demanded cancelling the SIR and using paper ballots.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was demanded to resign by Kharge.
Congress workers and INDIA bloc partners staged protests, while Kharge condemned BJP harassment of journalists.

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