Congress Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Resignation Over SIR Software Controversy and Calls for Dilli Chalo March

Congress Accuses Election Commission of Protecting CEC Amid Vote‑Theft Allegations On 26 October 2026 , Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the Election Commission of India (EC) is using every possible trick to shield Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar despite multiple revelations of vote theft. Key Developments Kharge highlighted that the EC refused an RTI request on the software used in SIR , citing “trade secrets”. He demanded Kumar’s resignation and the repeal of the 2023 law that protects the CEC. The Congress urged citizens to join the Dilli Chalo march on 1 November 2026 at Ramlila Maidan. Kharge claimed that in Uttar Pradesh, details of 16.18 lakh Forms 6, 7, 8 have not been disclosed, and irregularities were found in 10,470 voter records in Pilibhit. The three demands of the INDIA alliance are: resignation of the CEC, repeal of the protective law, immediate halt to SIR, restoration of illegally removed voters, and use of paper ballots for all elections. Important Facts The EC has repeatedly refused to disclose information about the controversial ECINET software, arguing that it would expose the “massive, centralised manipulation” alleged in the “disastrous” SIR system. The Congress also warned that proceeding with the rally could risk a trade loss of up to ₹10,000 crore if the opposition’s demands are not addressed. UPSC Relevance This episode touches upon several GS‑2 (Polity) themes: the constitutional status and independence of the Election Commission , the role and accountability of the Chief Election Commissioner , and the legal framework governing electoral reforms. Understanding the functioning of Forms 6‑8 and the shift between electronic and paper‑based voting is essential for questions on electoral integrity and democratic institutions. Way Forward For aspirants, it is important to monitor: Any legislative action to repeal the 2023 protection law for the CEC. Court petitions challenging the secrecy of SIR and ECINET . Decisions on whether future elections will revert to paper ballots. The political impact of the INDIA alliance and mass mobilisations like the Dilli Chalo march. These developments will shape the discourse on electoral transparency, institutional accountability, and the health of Indian democracy.