Mallikarjun Kharge raises concerns over SIR voter deletion, misuse of agencies and communal violence as Congress CWC focuses on poll strategy
New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused the BJP and the Election Commission of colluding to restrict voting rights through the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, while also flagging attacks on minorities in Bangladesh and incidents of communal disruption during Christmas in India.
Kharge alleges conspiracy behind SIR voter revision
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Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in New Delhi, Kharge said the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in nine states and three Union Territories was a “well-thought-out conspiracy” aimed at restricting democratic rights. Backing Rahul Gandhi’s campaign against alleged “vote theft”, he claimed evidence had repeatedly been presented to the public.
Kharge urged party workers to remain vigilant and ensure that voter names, particularly those belonging to Dalits, Adivasis, Extremely Backward Classes and minorities, are neither deleted nor shifted to other polling booths. He called on booth-level agents to conduct door-to-door verification using voter lists.
Poll preparations for 2026 Assembly elections
The Congress chief also asked party leaders to begin coordinated preparations for the Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry Assembly elections scheduled for April–May 2026, stressing unity and organisational readiness.
Allegations of agency misuse
Kharge accused the BJP-led government of misusing central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax department and CBI to target Opposition leaders. Referring to the National Herald case, he said the party was fighting the matter legally and rejected attempts to malign its leadership.
Condemnation of violence and communal incidents
Kharge expressed concern over recent attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, calling them worrying and deserving of strong condemnation. He also criticised incidents of vandalism and disruption during Christmas celebrations in parts of India, saying such actions damaged communal harmony and the country’s global image.
CWC condemns changes to MGNREGA
Separately, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the CWC unanimously condemned what it described as the Union government’s “anti-federal and anti-national” move to weaken the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by altering its name and structure.
He said the meeting also focused on strategies to counter alleged vote theft and address broader national challenges.
Key leaders present amid internal buzz
The CWC meeting, chaired by Kharge at the AICC headquarters, was attended by Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and senior leaders including KC Venugopal, Revanth Reddy, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Salman Khurshid, Harish Rawat, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Rajeev Shukla and Shashi Tharoor.
Siddaramaiah’s attendance came amid speculation over leadership issues in Karnataka, while Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was not invited to the meeting.
The Congress leadership used the platform to sharpen its political messaging, reiterating concerns over electoral integrity, federalism and communal harmony ahead of a series of crucial elections.
(With PTI inputs)
Published: 27 Dec 2025, 03:22 pm IST
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