Mallikarjun Kharge’s demand for fresh elections puts SIR, EVMs and ballot papers at the centre of a new political clash. (Img: X)
New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday demanded the dissolution of the Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies, calling for fresh elections through ballot papers amid the Opposition’s campaign against SIR and alleged electoral irregularities.
The dramatic demand has triggered a fresh Congress-BJP confrontation, with the BJP accusing Kharge of questioning the public mandate and constitutional institutions.
Speaking in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, Kharge said the Opposition would continue its nationwide campaign against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and what the Congress alleges are irregularities in the electoral process.
Kharge argued that the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies should be dissolved and fresh elections held using ballot papers. He also described Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Ministers elected through the existing system as having come to power through what he called illegal elections.
The remarks have immediately escalated the political debate over the credibility of elections, voter lists, Electronic Voting Machines and the Election Commission.
Kharge’s comments also take the Congress campaign beyond criticism of SIR and into a broader demand for fresh electoral mandates across the country.
## Why Kharge’s Demand Matters
The Congress president’s call for dissolving the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies is politically significant because it seeks fresh mandates for governments currently in office.
The demand has come amid a wider Opposition campaign against SIR, an electoral-roll revision exercise that has become a major political flashpoint.
Opposition parties have raised concerns about the possible exclusion of eligible voters during the revision process and have demanded greater transparency and safeguards. The Election Commission, on the other hand, has maintained that electoral-roll revision is aimed at ensuring accurate and updated voter lists.
The dispute has now expanded into a larger political confrontation over voter rights, electoral credibility and the functioning of democratic institutions.
## Congress Wants Ballot Papers Instead Of EVMs
Another major part of Kharge’s intervention was his demand for ballot-paper elections.
The Congress has repeatedly raised concerns about Electronic Voting Machines and has sought greater scrutiny of the electoral process. The latest demand places ballot-paper voting at the centre of the party’s campaign against what it sees as weaknesses in the current system.
The EVM debate has remained politically sensitive for years, with Opposition parties questioning aspects of electronic voting while the Election Commission has defended the system and its established safeguards.
Kharge’s latest remarks are therefore likely to keep the EVM-versus-ballot debate in the spotlight.
## BJP Launches Strong Counterattack
The BJP quickly responded to Kharge, rejecting his characterisation of elected leaders and accusing the Congress of insulting the democratic mandate.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the remarks amounted to an attack on constitutional institutions and the mandate given by voters through elections.
The BJP also accused the Congress of repeatedly questioning democratic institutions, the Election Commission, EVMs and election results whenever the party faces political setbacks.
The response has turned Kharge’s remarks into another major flashpoint in the continuing Congress-BJP battle over the electoral system.
## Shivraj Chouhan Defends Modi Government
Chouhan argued that describing the Prime Minister and Home Minister as illegal effectively questions the electoral mandate received by the ruling leadership.
The BJP’s position is that elected governments derive legitimacy from the constitutional electoral process and that political disagreement with election results cannot by itself invalidate those mandates.
The party has also accused the Congress of attempting to create doubts about the credibility of democratic institutions.
The Congress, however, has framed its campaign around electoral transparency, voter-list accuracy and what it describes as the need to protect democratic participation.
## SIR At The Centre Of The Political Storm
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has become the central issue connecting the latest Congress-BJP confrontation.
The exercise involves reviewing and updating electoral rolls, but its implementation has triggered political opposition in several parts of the country.
Congress and other Opposition parties have raised concerns about potential voter deletions and the impact on eligible voters. They have demanded greater transparency in the process and stronger safeguards.
The controversy has also resulted in protests and political mobilisation, with Opposition parties promising to continue their campaign against what they describe as irregularities in the electoral process.
## EVMs, Voter Lists And Election Commission Under Spotlight
The latest political confrontation brings three major electoral issues together: voter-list revision, EVMs and the Election Commission.
For the Congress, the concerns are connected to voter inclusion, electoral transparency and public confidence in the voting system.
For the BJP, the central issue is the legitimacy of the electoral mandate and the credibility of constitutional institutions responsible for conducting elections.
The competing narratives are likely to make electoral reform a major political talking point in the coming months.
## Political Battle Could Intensify
Kharge’s remarks come at a time when political parties are closely watching electoral developments and strengthening their organisational networks.
The Opposition is expected to continue protests and public campaigns against SIR, while the BJP is likely to defend the existing electoral framework and challenge allegations concerning EVMs and election legitimacy.
The political dispute could also influence the wider conversation around electoral reforms, voter registration, electoral-roll management and polling technology.
For ordinary voters, the debate has a direct relevance because electoral-roll changes can determine who remains eligible to participate in elections.
## What Happens Next?
The Congress is expected to continue its campaign against SIR and press its demands for greater transparency in the electoral process.
The BJP, meanwhile, is likely to intensify its political response and defend the legitimacy of elected governments and the existing election mechanism.
The bigger issue now is whether the confrontation will remain a political battle between the Congress and BJP or develop into a wider national debate on electoral reforms.
With SIR, EVMs, ballot-paper voting and voter-list revisions already dominating political discussions, Kharge’s demand for fresh elections has added another dramatic layer to the controversy.
