Congress to demand Election Commission probe at CWC meeting

Congress will seek an inquiry into the Election Commission and demand action from the poll panel and government at its Working Committee meeting on Tuesday. Sources say the CWC will let all members speak before issuing a resolution on the EC issue. The move follows a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded at least 14 objections in ten months over voter‑roll revisions taken without their knowledge. After a full‑Commission meeting on Saturday, a four‑page note listed nine decisions that addressed many of their concerns, but several questions remain unanswered. The INDIA bloc will meet the day after the CWC to craft a joint opposition strategy, with top opposition leaders expected on Wednesday. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters the matter concerns the country’s democracy and that “the EC’s own people have exposed them”. He cited a former Kerala Chief Secretary who said the Chief Election Commissioner told him to contest the election, and urged the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, even if Kumar steps down. The Cockroach Janta Party has called for a Jantar Mantar‑style protest in Mumbai on Oct 2 demanding Kumar’s resignation, a demand echoed by the broader opposition. Congress has staged protests in more than 1,000 districts, with general secretary K C Venugopal urging Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah to sack Kumar before streets fill with anti‑vote‑theft crowds. The opposition is drafting a motion in both houses of Parliament to remove Kumar; a similar motion in March by 63 Rajya Sabha and 130 Lok Sabha MPs was rejected, and a fresh notice filed on April 24 remains pending.

Context

The Election Commission’s independence is vital for free elections in India, and any perceived partisan bias can trigger political backlash and legal challenges.