Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused the BJP-led government of undermining democratic institutions and demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a return to ballot papers and the repeal of legal immunity granted to election commissioners.
Criticising Section 16 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, Kharge alleged that the provision weakened accountability by protecting election commissioners from legal proceedings over official acts.
He also called for stricter safeguards against manipulation of voter lists and questioned the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), demanding a return to ballot papers.
Kharge said the opposition’s fight was aimed at protecting the Constitution and ensuring free and fair elections, rather than securing victory for any particular political party. He also criticised the government’s response to opposition concerns, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were avoiding direct accountability.
On women’s reservation, the Congress chief accused the government of delaying the implementation of the 33 per cent quota in Parliament and state assemblies by linking it to delimitation. He argued that the reservation should be implemented using the existing strength of the legislatures.
Kharge alleged that the government was misleading the public by portraying the opposition as an obstacle to women’s reservation, despite Parliament having passed the legislation.
