Kharge urges turnout for November 1 Delhi rally

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has urged people to attend an INDIA bloc rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1, where the opposition alliance plans to protest the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and press for changes to election procedures. The rally is being called the “Save the Vote, Save the Country” event. Kharge said the bloc wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, an immediate halt to the SIR process, and the restoration of voter names it alleges were improperly removed. He also called for elections to be conducted using paper ballots and for repeal of a 2023 law that he says protects the chief election commissioner. The demands and allegations are Kharge’s; the reports do not independently establish voter suppression or responsibility by Kumar. Kharge also questioned the Election Commission’s refusal to provide information about software used during the SIR in response to a Right to Information request. He said the commission cited trade-secret protections. He further cited figures concerning voter records in Uttar Pradesh, including 10,470 entries in Pilibhit where discrepancies were reported, and said details of...