Congress Working Committee Demands CEC Resignation, Suspension of SIR Over Electoral Roll Concerns

Image Source : @INCIndia CONGRESS

Dated 29th September 2026

News By Dr. B R Abdul Wajid

Chief Political Editor

New Delhi | The Congress Working Committee (CWC) held an important meeting at Congress Headquarters, Indira Bhawan, New Delhi, today. The meeting was held under the leadership of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other CWC members were present.

The CWC passed a resolution raising serious concerns over the electoral process and what it described as the alleged capture of the electoral system by the RSS-BJP, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) under the present Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) allegedly facilitating the process.

The CWC said that the recent developments have vindicated Rahul Gandhi’s repeated warnings about what he has described as systematic subversion of India’s electoral process through “Vote Chori”. The resolution referred to concerns over the selective enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, the integrity of EVMs, additions and deletions from electoral rolls, changes in the process of appointing the CEC and the grant of lifelong immunity to the CEC.

Images Source : @INCIndia CONGRESS

The CWC also raised concerns over what it described as the ECI becoming a “one-man show”, alleging that the CEC has been taking decisions without proper consultation with the other Election Commissioners. According to the resolution, two Election Commissioners raised 14 objections over a period of ten months regarding what they described as “unauthorised” and “illegal” changes to Form 6 used in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The resolution further expressed concern over the SIR process and claimed that 13 crore 30 lakh names had been removed from the electoral rolls. The CWC questioned the constitutional validity of the process, stating that shifting the burden on citizens to prove their eligibility, carrying out the exercise in haste and without transparent safeguards, and the alleged mass deletion of names raise concerns under Article 14 and Article 326 of the Constitution.

Image Source : @INCIndia CONGRESS

The CWC said that an electoral exercise of doubtful constitutional validity should not determine who can vote in the world’s largest democracy.

The resolution said that under the guidance of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the Congress has taken the issue to the people and various forums. It referred to the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, the nationwide Vote Chori campaign, Rahul Gandhi’s press conferences concerning electoral rolls in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Haryana, the EAGLE group and its engagement with the ECI, written objections to procedural changes, legal challenges to the SIR, INDIA bloc protests in Parliament and the march to the ECI.

The CWC said that what began as Rahul Gandhi’s warning has now become a nationwide demand for accountability, transparency and restoration of the electoral system.

The CWC resolved to demand the immediate resignation of the CEC, stating that he had lost the moral and institutional authority to continue in office. It also demanded the immediate suspension of the SIR process over concerns regarding the integrity and transparency of the electoral rolls and the constitutional validity of the process.

The CWC further demanded the immediate restoration of the 13 crore 30 lakh names that it said had been removed from the electoral rolls.

The resolution alleged that the “Vote Chori” had been organised by the CEC on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister and demanded their resignations. It said that the Congress would continue to raise the issue in Parliament, in the courts and on the streets until, according to the party, those responsible are punished, every citizen’s vote is protected and the ECI is restored as an independent constitutional authority.

The CWC said that for the Indian National Congress, the struggle to restore universal adult franchise in India is no less than the Freedom Struggle and affirmed that the party would continue the struggle until it reaches its conclusion.

Image Source : @INCIndia CONGRESS

The Congress Working Committee said that the party will continue its fight for transparency, accountability and the protection of every citizen’s right to vote. The CWC said Congress will raise the issue in Parliament, in the courts and before the people, while demanding the restoration of the electoral rolls and an independent and credible Election Commission. It also reaffirmed that protecting universal adult franchise and the democratic rights of citizens remains a central commitment of the Congress party.

News By Dr. B R Abdul Wajid