Raigad Congress marches to Alibag collector's office over alleged voter list deletions under SIR

The Raigad district Congress committee on Monday held a march in Alibag against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The party alleges that eligible voters' names are being removed from the electoral rolls through the process. It took the march to the district collector's office, demanding an independent probe into the role of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The march was led by Rajabhau Thakur, president of the Raigad district Congress committee (South). It began at 11 am from the Congress Bhavan, the B. A. R. Antulay Bhavan on Karve Road in Alibag. Office-bearers, workers and supporters joined in large numbers and moved towards the collector's office shouting slogans.

The Congress wants an inquiry into whether the names of eligible citizens are being wrongly removed. The protesters also said the official figures for how many voters were removed and how many new ones were added in the SIR should be made public. The party demanded that action be taken under the law if irregularities are found, and that Kumar resign from his post.

The Congress also questioned the functioning of the Election Commission. The party claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had lodged formal objections to some decisions of the commission. In its memorandum, the Congress said these objections related to the SIR process, voter registration and deletions, and the commission's IT system. On this basis, the party questioned the transparency of the commission's decision-making. It said the process of changing the voter list should be transparent and citizens should be able to check it themselves.

Workers raised slogans of "Aapka mat, aapka adhikar" (Your vote, your right) and "Protect the Indian Constitution". The Congress alleges that democracy is being curtailed by striking at Indian citizens' right to vote.

In the memorandum given to the collector, the Congress reiterated its demand for Kumar's resignation and an independent probe into his role. The party also asked for official information on how many voters' names were removed during the SIR, how many of them filed objections and how many names were added back to the voter list.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has clarified that questions, suggestions and internal discussion within the commission are part of the decision-making process. It has also said that differences have been resolved through talks among the three Election Commissioners. According to the commission, the Congress's allegations and demands are part of the party's political stand, and a final conclusion on these matters can be reached only on the basis of official records and an independent inquiry.

A political controversy over the SIR is under way across the country. The Congress taking to the streets in Raigad has also heated up the district's political climate. The party put forward the changes to the voter list, the fear of eligible voters' names being removed and the transparency of the commission's decision-making as the main issues of the protest.