IndiaPosted at: Sep 21 2026 12:58PM


Kharge questions 'VIP electors' label, calls SIR a 'flawed process' affecting even BJP leaders

New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday stepped up his criticism of the Election Commission of India over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise had exposed serious flaws in the verification of voters and was now even affecting even prominent figures associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Kharge said the Congress had opposed the process from the beginning, warning that an exercise launched in Bihar and subsequently extended to Delhi raised concerns over the protection of citizens' voting rights.
In a post on social media platform X, Kharge said, "Bihar se shuru hua SIR ab jab Delhi mein dastak de chuka hai, tab shayad sattaadhishon ko pata chal raha hai ki Congress party poore process ko pehle din se flawed kyun keh rahi thi!" (Now that the SIR, which began in Bihar, has reached Delhi, perhaps those in power are beginning to understand why the Congress had called the entire process flawed from the very first day.)
Describing SIR as an alleged instrument of "vote theft" and an attempt to undermine democracy, Kharge called it a "Frankenstein Monster", claiming that the process was now trapping members of the very political establishment associated with its implementation. He cited notices reportedly issued to senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani, the incumbent External Affairs Minister, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, a Rajya Sabha member, a former union minister and a former chief minister. He also referred to notices reportedly issued earlier to a Bharat Ratna-awarded scientist and a former Chief of Naval Staff, questioning the grounds on which such individuals had been subjected to scrutiny.
Kharge also referred to the outcome of appeals against voter deletions in West Bengal, claiming that 93 per cent of the cases decided so far had been won by the appellants. According to the figures cited by him, 1,13,943 people would be restored to the electoral rolls. "Kis aadhar par unka matadhikar chheena gaya?" (On what basis was their right to vote taken away?) he asked, questioning the grounds for excluding voters from the electoral register.
Taking aim at the ECI's reference to "VIP/marked electors" in an official press release, Kharge questioned whether India's universal adult franchise now distinguished between privileged voters and ordinary citizens. "Kya ab Bharat ke Universal Adult Franchise mein matdataon ki koi special category hai — VIP matdata aur aam matdata?" (Does India's universal adult franchise now have a special category of voters — VIP voters and ordinary voters?) he asked. He further invoked the principle of "One Person, One Vote, One Value", asking, "Kya VIP vote ab zyada qeemti ho gaya hai?" (Has the VIP vote now become more valuable?) His remarks focused on whether the electoral system was applying equal standards to all voters.
Referring to the broader scale of the SIR exercise, Kharge claimed that 13.8 crore voters had been excluded from electoral rolls across 31 states and union territories during its first three phases, out of a total electorate of 94.78 crore. He calculated the figure at approximately 14.61 per cent and questioned why authorities had allegedly remained silent while crores of ordinary voters faced the prospect of exclusion.
Kharge wrapped up his post by contrasting the ECI's communication concerning prominent individuals with what he described as silence over the plight of ordinary voters. "VIPs ke liye press release, karodon aam matdataon ke liye khamoshi!" (A press release for VIPs, silence for crores of ordinary voters.) His comments come amid continuing political and legal scrutiny of the SIR process, including voter verification, electoral-roll deletions and appeals against exclusion. The Election Commission has defended the revision exercise, while legal proceedings have examined issues concerning the treatment of voters and the safeguards available to those challenging electoral-roll decisions. UNI SKA AAB
Tags: #Kharge questions 'VIP electors' label# calls SIR a 'flawed process' affecting even BJP leaders
More News

Mamata Banerjee seeks urgent SC hearing on plea against ECI freeze on TMC symbol

21 Sep 2026 | 2:08 PM

New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal on Monday urged the Supreme Court to urgently list Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee’s plea challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to freeze the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) name and its reserved ‘Flowers & Grass’ symbol amid a dispute between rival factions.

see more..

Inflation eroding GST cut benefits, Jairam Ramesh says, questions strength of consumption and investment

21 Sep 2026 | 1:50 PM

New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh on Monday stepped up his criticism of the Narendra Modi government’s economic policies, questioning whether the GST rate cuts announced in September 2025 had delivered the broad-based boost to consumption that was promised.

see more..

Kharge questions 'VIP electors' label, calls SIR a 'flawed process' affecting even BJP leaders

21 Sep 2026 | 12:58 PM

New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday stepped up his criticism of the Election Commission of India over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise had exposed serious flaws in the verification of voters and was now even affecting even prominent figures associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Kharge said the Congress had opposed the process from the beginning, warning that an exercise launched in Bihar and subsequently extended to Delhi raised concerns over the protect.

see more..

Government dissolves Digital Communications Commission with immediate effect

21 Sep 2026 | 11:23 AM

New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) The Centre has dissolved the Digital Communications Commission (DCC), the apex body that evolved from the Telecom Commission set up more than three decades ago to deal with various aspects of India's telecommunications sector.

see more..

Delhi’s ‘Vayo Anand’ scheme to give Rs 2 4 lakh annual aid to senior citizen recreation centres

21 Sep 2026 | 11:16 AM

New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) In a city where over a million elderly citizens battle loneliness, neglect, and the crushing silence of empty homes, the Delhi government has finally moved to ‘Vayo Anand’ scheme, under which eligible senior citizen recreation centres will receive Rs 2.40 lakh annually to provide social, recreational and basic wellness facilities to people aged 60 years and above.

see more..