Rahul Gandhi, Kharge and Other Opposition Leaders Move Supreme Court Over Alleged Voter Deletions and SIR Irregularities.
New Delhi:
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and several other opposition leaders on Monday approached the Supreme Court, alleging large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The petition seeks judicial intervention over concerns raised by opposition parties regarding the revision process and its potential impact on voters’ rights.
According to the Supreme Court’s website, the petition was filed on Monday evening. Several prominent opposition leaders from different political parties have joined the legal challenge, reflecting a broader opposition campaign against what they describe as irregularities in the electoral roll revision exercise.
Among those who filed the petition are Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.
The petitioners also include Communist Party of India leader D. Raja, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Majhi, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M. A. Baby and Indian Union Muslim League leader E. T. Mohammed Basheer.
Opposition Leaders Lead ‘March for Democracy’
The legal move came as opposition MPs and leaders, accompanied by hundreds of supporters and activists, launched a protest march towards the Supreme Court on Monday under the banner of ‘March for Democracy’.
The march was organised to submit a petition highlighting the opposition’s allegations of ‘vote chori’ and raising objections against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The participants called for action over their concerns regarding the electoral process and the ongoing revision of voter lists.
The march was led by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, who serve as Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, respectively. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, D. Raja, M. A. Baby, Tejashwi Yadav, Supriya Sule, Sanjay Raut, CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya and E. T. Mohammed Basheer were among the prominent leaders who participated.
The opposition has argued that alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls raise serious questions about the protection of voting rights and the transparency of the electoral process.
Leaders Had Sought Meeting with Chief Justice
Before the protest, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge had written to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, requesting an appointment between 4 pm and 5 pm on Monday to submit a memorandum outlining their concerns.
According to reports, the memorandum sought an end to alleged vote chori, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and a return to the paper ballot system.
However, sources said that the Chief Justice had declined to meet Rahul Gandhi over the allegations, explaining that similar matters were already pending consideration before the Supreme Court in judicial proceedings.
The decision came amid growing political opposition to the SIR exercise, with opposition parties demanding greater transparency and safeguards to ensure that eligible voters are not excluded from electoral rolls.
Electoral Roll Revision at Centre of Political Dispute
The Special Intensive Revision has emerged as a major point of contention between opposition parties and the Election Commission. Opposition leaders have expressed concerns over alleged mass deletions of names and possible irregularities during the revision process.
The petition filed on Monday brings these concerns before the country’s highest court, seeking judicial attention to the issues raised by the opposition.
The development marks a further escalation in the political dispute over electoral roll management, with opposition parties combining legal action and public demonstrations to press their demands.
The allegations made by the petitioners remain subject to judicial consideration. The filing of the petition does not, by itself, establish that irregularities occurred, and the matter will be governed by the proceedings before the Supreme Court.
