New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged traders in Delhi to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, claiming that protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls would end within 30 seconds if the demand was met.

In a post on X, Gandhi accused the government of disrupting business in the national capital through metro service closures, road blockades and restrictions imposed during protests against the electoral roll revision exercise.

“To every trader in Delhi: We love you and hear you,” Gandhi wrote, acknowledging concerns over the impact of protests and traffic restrictions on businesses.

He alleged that what he described as a “stolen vote” threatened not only democracy but also traders’ businesses, savings and their children’s future. Gandhi called on traders to press the Prime Minister to remove Kumar, whom he referred to as “accused no. 4”.

“Tell Modi to sack accused no. 4, Gyanesh Kumar and the protests will stop in 30 seconds,” he said.

The remarks come amid an escalating political dispute over the SIR exercise, with the Congress and other opposition parties alleging irregularities in electoral rolls and demanding action against the Election Commission leadership.

Traders seek postponement of November 1 rally

Gandhi’s appeal followed a request by the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), which urged the INDIA bloc to postpone its November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan until after November 10, citing the potential impact on businesses during the festive shopping season.

The traders’ body reportedly expressed concern that traffic diversions, road closures and restrictions on public transport could affect customer movement and business activity in Delhi’s commercial areas.

It also referred to disruptions caused by previous rallies and marches in Connaught Place and other parts of central Delhi. The festive period, which includes major shopping occasions, is particularly important for retailers who depend on increased customer footfall.

The INDIA bloc has planned the November 1 rally as part of its campaign against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and its demand for Kumar’s removal.

Gandhi’s remarks sought to link the traders’ concerns over business disruption with the opposition’s demand for action against the Chief Election Commissioner.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also indicated that the party leadership would consider the concerns raised by the business community.

Kharge renews demand for CEC’s resignation

Separately, Kharge on Monday accused the Narendra Modi government of protecting Kumar despite what he described as repeated revelations of electoral irregularities.

The Congress president alleged that the Election Commission had declined to disclose information about the software used in the SIR process under the Right to Information (RTI) framework, citing “Trade Secrets”.

Kharge also urged people to join the INDIA bloc’s November 1 Dilli Chalo march and rally at Ramlila Maidan, describing the campaign as an effort to protect democracy and the Constitution.

Raising concerns over electoral records in Uttar Pradesh, Kharge claimed that details of 16.18 lakh Form 6 applications had not been made public. Form 6 is used by eligible citizens to apply for inclusion in electoral rolls.

He also referred to irregularities involving 10,470 voter entries in Pilibhit and said the issue had prompted authorities to order a wider examination of Forms 6, 7 and 8 across Uttar Pradesh.

The allegations have become part of the opposition’s broader criticism of the electoral roll revision process. However, claims of irregularities in individual records and allegations of systematic manipulation remain distinct issues and must be assessed on the basis of the findings of official inquiries.

Uttar Pradesh orders scrutiny of voter forms

Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa has directed officials to scrutinise Forms 6, 7 and 8 entered by computer assistants since April 10, when the state’s SIR exercise concluded. The directive followed allegations of irregularities in electoral records, including those raised in Pilibhit.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress had alleged large-scale manipulation in the Pilibhit Sadar Assembly constituency, claiming that voters’ names had been changed even though their Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers and serial numbers remained unchanged.

The forms under scrutiny serve different purposes in electoral roll management:

  • Form 6: Applications for inclusion of names in electoral rolls.
  • Form 7: Applications for objections to entries and deletion of names, as permitted under the applicable rules.
  • Form 8: Applications for correction of electoral roll entries and other permitted updates.

The scrutiny is intended to examine entries made by computer assistants and identify discrepancies requiring correction or further investigation.

The Election Commission’s findings in Pilibhit have already brought irregularities in voter records under scrutiny, with action directed against officials in connection with the entries identified there. The wider review is a separate administrative step and does not, by itself, establish that all disputed entries across Uttar Pradesh involved deliberate electoral fraud.

INDIA bloc seeks halt to SIR and return to paper ballots

Kharge reiterated the opposition alliance’s principal demands: Kumar’s resignation, repeal of the 2023 law concerning the appointment and service conditions of election commissioners, an immediate halt to the SIR exercise and restoration of voter names that the opposition alleges were illegally removed.

The alliance has also called for elections to be conducted using paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines.

“This is not just a fight to save votes; it is a people’s struggle to save the Constitution and democracy,” Kharge said.

The Congress has separately accused the Election Commission of withholding information about its ECINET software. The party claimed that the refusal to disclose details could conceal what it described as large-scale manipulation during the SIR exercise.

These allegations form part of the ongoing political dispute between the opposition and the Election Commission over electoral roll management, transparency and accountability.

The Election Commission’s response to the latest allegations was not included in the statements issued by the Congress leaders.

The planned November 1 rally is expected to serve as a platform for the INDIA bloc to press its demands. At the same time, the request from Delhi’s traders has highlighted the challenge of organising large political demonstrations during a crucial period for commercial activity.