Dissolve Lok Sabha, Assemblies and Hold Elections Using Ballot Papers - Kharge

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the country’s electoral system was plagued by irregularities and demanded the dissolution of the Lok Sabha and all state Assemblies. He called for fresh elections to be conducted using ballot papers, alleging that elections won through the misuse of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) could not be considered democratic. Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, on Saturday, Kharge questioned the legitimacy of the current electoral process and said it raised concerns over the governments elected through it.

Kharge also criticised the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise was weakening the electoral system and could adversely affect poor people, the uneducated, workers and minorities. He referred to the September 30 INDIA bloc meeting, where 20 parties discussed concerns over the SIR process. Kharge also criticised changes to the selection mechanism for the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, including the replacement of the Chief Justice of India with a Union minister. He announced that the Opposition would intensify protests in Delhi from October 6 over the alleged irregularities in the electoral process.