The Sadar Hills District Congress Committee (SH-DCC) stepped up its attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his immediate removal and an independent probe into alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions, voter registration and deletion of names, including those linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
The demand was made during a district-level protest organised in Kangpokpi in pursuance of directives from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).
A delegation of the SH-DCC, led by its president Dr Lamtinthang Haokip, met Kangpokpi District Election Officer Hemant Kumar, IAS, and submitted a representation addressed to the President of India through the district election authorities, seeking action against Kumar.
The move came days after an investigation published by The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period on several decisions and procedures relating to electoral rolls and the SIR exercise.
According to the report, the objections covered issues including the addition of new voters, deletion and restoration of names, changes to the voter-registration process and concerns over the centralisation and custody of electoral-roll data.
The SH-DCC alleged that the revelations had raised “serious questions” over the functioning and credibility of the Election Commission and claimed that the concerns previously voiced by Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, warranted a comprehensive examination.
The Congress committee further alleged that the electoral machinery had been subjected to unilateral decision-making and demanded that all electoral-roll decisions taken during Kumar’s tenure be reviewed.
However, the Election Commission has rejected the suggestion that its decisions were taken unilaterally. In its response to The Indian Express investigation, the poll panel said that differing views and observations were part of institutional deliberations and asserted that decisions taken over the past year, including those concerning electoral-roll revision and SIR, were unanimous decisions of the full Commission.
The SH-DCC nevertheless demanded the immediate removal of Kumar from the post of CEC and called for an independent and impartial inquiry into allegations concerning electoral-roll revisions, voter registration, deletion of names and related administrative decisions.
It also sought a comprehensive review of electoral-roll changes undertaken during Kumar’s tenure, measures to strengthen transparency and accountability in the functioning of the ECI, and appropriate legal or administrative action if any wrongdoing was established through due process.
“Free, fair and transparent elections are the foundation of Indian democracy. Any concern regarding the integrity and credibility of the electoral process must be thoroughly examined by the competent authorities,” the SH-DCC said.
The district Congress committee asserted that the Election Commission must function in the interest of the people and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.
“Election Commission of India is to serve the interest of the Indian people, not to act as puppets of any political party,” it said.
In a separate representation submitted through the Kangpokpi District Election Officer for onward transmission to the Governor of Manipur, the SH-DCC formally sought action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over what it described as serious concerns surrounding the functioning of the ECI, electoral-roll processes and the SIR exercise.
The representation, signed by SH-DCC president Dr Lamtinthang Haokip and general secretary Dr Mangkholal Haokip, was also endorsed by the presidents of the 50-Kangpokpi, 51-Saitu and 46-Saikul Block Congress Committees, besides the district Mahila Congress and Youth Congress presidents.
The memorandum referred to the reported objections raised by the other two Election Commissioners and said the developments had deepened concerns over voter registration, deletion and restoration of names, electoral data management and the SIR process.
The SH-DCC urged the competent authorities to examine the allegations independently and review electoral-roll changes and administrative decisions taken during Kumar’s tenure.
It further sought appropriate legal and administrative action wherever wrongdoing was established in accordance with law.
The Congress committee said its demands were aimed at safeguarding the credibility of India’s electoral system and restoring public confidence in the electoral process.
The representation concluded with an appeal for “free, fair and transparent elections”, describing them as fundamental to Indian democracy and urging the authorities to thoroughly examine all concerns relating to the integrity of electoral processes.
