The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) staged a protest in Vijayawada on Monday, demanding an independent inquiry into alleged irregularities in electoral rolls nationwide. The party also called for the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of facilitating electoral manipulation.
The protest, held near Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium, was part of a nationwide demonstration directed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and led by APCC president Y.S. Sharmila. APCC vice-president Kolanukonda Shivaji stated that the party had raised concerns over the alleged deletion of approximately 13 crore voters and the issuance of notices to an estimated 3-4 crore voters due to inadequate documentation. Information was available with The Chenab Times that the protesters sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the registration of criminal cases against him, advocating for his arrest.
Sources indicate that the APCC leaders have demanded an independent inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the electoral process, an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and the restoration of deleted votes. The party has also raised concerns about the centralisation of voter data entry, arguing that it undermines the roles of local Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). They called for the decentralisation of the Election Commission’s powers to enhance transparency and accountability.
Further allegations centered on software-related restrictions that allegedly prevent eligible citizens, upon turning 18, from registering as voters. The APCC sought an explanation from the Election Commission regarding the basis for such provisions and the authorization behind these decisions. The party urged the courts to take suo motu cognisance of the allegations of “vote theft” and order a judicial inquiry to ascertain facts and fix responsibility. Leaders also called upon Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, and Jana Sena Party president K. Pawan Kalyan to publicly state their positions on the matter.
Vijayawada City Congress president Naraharishetty Narasimha Rao alleged that the BJP-led alliance had benefited from “vote theft” and that the Election Commission had been used to facilitate electoral manipulation. He claimed that the BJP had secured victories in the 2024 general and State Assembly elections through such means. While the protest was organized as per AICC directives, reports suggested that APCC president Y.S. Sharmila was absent due to her daughter’s engagement, with some analysts suggesting a lack of enthusiasm from the state unit.
In response to the allegations, BJP national vice-president V. Ram Madhav rejected the “Vote Chori” claims as baseless and condemned the accusations against the Election Commission of India (ECI). He stated that established mechanisms exist for the preparation and revision of electoral rolls, and the ECI had clarified that the SIR process was being conducted transparently. Madhav challenged opposition parties to strengthen their own organizations rather than making unsubstantiated allegations.
The Chenab Times News Desk