Kharge's 3 non-negotiable demands: CEC resign, SIR axed, ballot papers
Synopsis
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has drawn a firm line: CEC Gyanesh Kumar must resign, the SIR electoral roll revision must be scrapped, and elections must revert to ballot papers — or the INDIA Bloc stays on the streets. The simultaneous controversy over women journalists allegedly harassed during protests has added a combustible second front to what is already one of the opposition's most coordinated electoral-integrity mobilisations in years.
Key Takeaways
Mallikarjun Kharge declared three 'non-negotiable' Congress demands on 5 October 2026 : resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar , cancellation of the SIR , and return to ballot paper voting.
INDIA Bloc -led protests are under way across multiple states over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Three women journalists have filed complaints against Delhi Police personnel alleging sexual misconduct during protests at Jantar Mantar ; cases transferred to the Crime Branch .
Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray led a 'Garjana Morcha' rally in Mumbai against the ECI; the BJP and Shiv Sena called it a 'publicity stunt.' The ECI had not publicly responded to the resignation demand as of 5 October 2026 .
Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday, 5 October 2026, publicly enumerated three demands he described as 'non-negotiable' for his party amid a widening national controversy over the Election Commission of India (ECI). The demands centre on the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and a return to voting by ballot paper.
Kharge's Three Demands
Posting on social media platform X, Kharge stated: 'The Congress Party's 3 demands are non-negotiable. First, the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar; Second, the cancellation of SIR; Third, conducting elections on Ballot Paper.' He also declared solidarity with civil society groups and youth organisations agitating on these issues across the country, saying, 'Whichever Civil Society Members and Youth Organisations are struggling on these issues in various places across the country, we stand with them.'
INDIA Bloc Protests Spread Nationwide
The demands come as INDIA Bloc-led demonstrations have spread across multiple states, with protesters calling for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls. The revision process has drawn accusations from the opposition of being selectively conducted in a manner that could skew voter lists. This is among the most coordinated opposition mobilisations on an electoral integrity issue in recent years.
Journalists' Harassment Allegations Shadow the Protests
The agitation has been accompanied by a separate controversy: three women journalists have filed complaints against Delhi Police personnel, alleging sexual misconduct while being detained during protests at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. The police confirmed on Sunday that the complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch for what they described as an 'impartial' enquiry. Kharge condemned the alleged harassment, saying the ruling dispensation was 'extremely panicked' and warning of further 'distraction tactics.'
'Garjana Morcha' in Mumbai, BJP Hits Back
In Mumbai, an opposition rally dubbed 'Garjana Morcha' — led by Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray — targeted the ECI. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena rejected the demonstration as a display of 'double standards' and dismissed it as a 'publicity stunt,' framing the rally as opportunistic political theatre rather than a genuine democratic protest.
What Happens Next
The ECI has not publicly responded to the resignation demand as of 5 October 2026. With the INDIA Bloc committing to sustained street agitation and civil society organisations joining the protests, pressure on the government to address the SIR controversy is likely to intensify in the coming days. How the Centre and the Election Commission respond — particularly to the journalists' harassment allegations now before the Crime Branch — will be closely watched.
Point of View
SIR rollback, ballot papers — is strategically designed to be maximally difficult for the ruling side to concede without appearing to validate fraud allegations, yet easy to rally around for a fragmented bloc. Notably, the ballot paper demand is the most structurally significant: it targets EVMs, a perennial opposition grievance that has never gained traction in court but resonates with a section of the public. The journalists' harassment allegations are a genuine accountability issue that risks being instrumentalised by both sides — the government to discredit protesters, and the opposition to paint a broader narrative of authoritarian repression. The Crime Branch referral, rather than immediate action, will be read by critics as delay.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Congress's three non-negotiable demands on the Election Commission?
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and the conduct of future elections on ballot paper instead of EVMs. He posted these demands on X on 5 October 2026.
Why is the INDIA Bloc protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
The INDIA Bloc alleges irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls overseen by the Election Commission under CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Protesters contend the revision was conducted in a manner that could distort voter lists, and are demanding Kumar's resignation over these concerns.
What happened to journalists during the anti-CEC protests in Delhi?
Three women journalists filed complaints against Delhi Police personnel alleging sexual misconduct while they were detained during protests at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. Police confirmed on Sunday that the complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch for an 'impartial' enquiry.
What was the 'Garjana Morcha' rally in Mumbai?
The 'Garjana Morcha' was an opposition rally in Mumbai organised by Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray against the Election Commission of India. The BJP and Shiv Sena dismissed it as a 'publicity stunt' and an example of political double standards.
Has the Election Commission responded to the resignation demand?
As of 5 October 2026, the Election Commission of India had not publicly responded to the demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. The controversy is expected to intensify as INDIA Bloc protests continue across multiple states.
