Amid the political firestorm over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, the Congress Working Committee meeting saw a fiery message from Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. According to sources, Rahul Gandhi’s message to his party colleagues was “let’s fight to the finish.”
Sources suggest, the Congress party are firm on their demands, calling for the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the scrapping of the SIR process and crucially- fixing accountability on Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
In a scathing remark, Gandhi hit out at the Prime Minister, calling the 2024 general elections “completely fake,” said sources. The Congress MP also reportedly said, “they are doing two types of match-fixing. One is match-fixing through EVMs, and the other is deliberately creating errors in the electoral rolls. In Haryana, Maharashtra and Karnataka, I said that vote theft was taking place. People did not understand it initially, but over the last two years, the atmosphere has changed because I presented the facts-based evidence.” Taking a sharp jibe, Gandhi called Modi “an illegal Prime Minister,” sources said.
The panel has adopted a resolution against the EC and the SIR process. According to sources, the CWC, “nothing short of their (PM Modi and HM Shah’s) resignation will ensure the safety of our constitution and hard-earned democracy.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in the CWC meeting, demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s removal from the post. He even called the CEC “a puppet of the Narendra Modi government.” “This goes against the very spirit and principles of Indian democracy, which were established to ensure that every eligible citizen’s vote is protected and every vote is counted fairly.,” he said
Kharge also called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation on moral grounds. Kharge’s remarks came during the meeting.
In a press briefing following the huddle, Congress MP KC Venugopal said, “the CEC has no moral right to be in that post.” Venugopal said the Congress will seek to build a broader opposition movement against the Election Commission and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. He said an INDIA bloc meeting scheduled for tomorrow will discuss suggestions from alliance partners and chalk out an action plan for future agitations.
Venugopal said the Congress plans to take its campaign back to the booths and launch a coordinated campaign with the support of opposition parties. He also demanded the immediate suspension of the SIR exercise, alleging that it is aimed at “destroying democracy” in the country. Venugopal further claimed that 13 crore voters had been “illegally removed” and demanded their immediate restoration.
Congress’s war cry needs a target: “Fight to the finish” is a stirring war cry, but the Congress must decide which finish it wants. Gyanesh Kumar’s exit? The SIR scrapped? The accountability from the Centre? Development? Stacking every demand risks drowning the one that sticks. With the Supreme Court now listening, the Election Commission owes answers, and the Opposition owes focus.