Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday appealed to Delhi’s trading community to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, claiming that protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls could end within half a minute if the demand were accepted.

In a post on X, Gandhi criticised the disruption caused by restrictions on roads and metro services during demonstrations against the voter-list revision exercise. He said the measures were affecting businesses in the national capital and urged traders to raise the issue with the government.

Addressing the business community, Gandhi said the Congress understood their concerns but warned that alleged manipulation of electoral rolls could have wider consequences for livelihoods, savings and the future of their children.

He called Kumar “accused no. 4” and said the protests would stop within 30 seconds if Modi removed the CEC.

Traders seek postponement of INDIA bloc rally

Gandhi’s remarks come amid concerns from the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) over the INDIA bloc’s planned rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1.

The traders’ body has asked the opposition alliance to defer the event until after November 10, arguing that traffic restrictions and transport disruptions could hurt businesses during the festive shopping period.

The CTI also cited losses it said traders had suffered during earlier rallies, marches and road closures in Connaught Place and other parts of central Delhi.

The November 1 gathering is part of the INDIA bloc’s campaign against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. The opposition has also demanded Kumar’s removal, accusing the Election Commission of failing to adequately address concerns surrounding the SIR process.

Kharge accuses government of shielding CEC

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge renewed the party’s demand for Kumar’s resignation on Monday, accusing the Modi government of protecting the election chief despite what he described as repeated disclosures about alleged vote theft.

Kharge also questioned the Election Commission’s refusal to share information about the software used in the SIR exercise under the Right to Information (RTI) framework. According to him, the information had been withheld on the grounds of “Trade Secrets”.

Urging people to attend the INDIA bloc’s November 1 Dilli Chalo march and rally at Ramlila Maidan, Kharge described the campaign as an effort to safeguard the Constitution and democratic institutions.

He raised concerns about electoral records in Uttar Pradesh, alleging that details of 16.18 lakh Form 6 applications had not been made public. Form 6 is used by individuals seeking inclusion in electoral rolls.

Kharge also pointed to discrepancies involving 10,470 voters in Pilibhit, saying the issue had led authorities to order an examination of Forms 6, 7 and 8 across the state.

UP orders review of voter applications

Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa has directed officials to scrutinise Forms 6, 7 and 8 entered by computer assistants from April 10 onwards, following the conclusion of the state's SIR exercise.

The directive followed allegations made by the Uttar Pradesh Congress on October 21 concerning voter records in the Pilibhit Sadar Assembly constituency.

The party alleged that thousands of voters’ details had been altered even though their Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers and serial numbers remained unchanged.

The review covers applications for adding names to electoral rolls through Form 6, requests and objections relating to deletion through Form 7, and corrections or other changes submitted through Form 8.

The allegations have prompted scrutiny, but they do not, by themselves, establish that electoral fraud occurred.

Opposition seeks suspension of SIR, return to paper ballots

The Congress has reiterated a series of demands linked to the controversy, including Kumar’s resignation, an end to the ongoing SIR exercise and the restoration of names it claims were unlawfully deleted from electoral rolls.

The party has also called for the repeal of the 2023 law that provides protection to election commissioners and has demanded a return to paper ballots for elections.

Kharge said the opposition’s campaign extended beyond electoral disputes, describing it as a broader effort to protect democratic principles and constitutional rights.

On Sunday, the Congress also accused the Election Commission of withholding information about its ECINET software. The party alleged that repeated refusals to disclose details were intended to conceal what it termed large-scale, centrally coordinated manipulation during the SIR process.

The Election Commission’s response to the latest allegations was not included in the statements issued by the Congress leaders.