Purna Singh New Delhi

Congressleader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi intensified his criticism of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Tuesday, with the party deciding to keep the Election Commission and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) at the centre of its campaign.

Gandhi told the CWC that the Congress should continue pressing for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. The party’s resolution also sought suspension of the SIR exercise and restoration of 13.3 crore names that Congress claims have been removed from electoral rolls.

Gandhi reiterated allegations concerning electoral irregularities in Haryana, Maharashtra and Karnataka, including what he has described as manipulation of voter lists and EVM-related concerns. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and maintained that differences in institutional deliberations are normal and that its orders have legal sanction.

The Congress is expected to discuss its next steps with INDIA bloc parties at their proposed meeting on September 30. Gandhi indicated that the party could propose a major rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, along with mobilisation programmes in states. Opposition parties are separately considering further parliamentary action seeking Kumar’s removal.

The CWC meeting, chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, was attended by senior leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh.