Correspondent
KOHIMA, OCT 27 (NPN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Tuesday alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and demanded accountability from chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, as part of the party’s “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” campaign.
The allegations were raised at a press conference at Congress Bhavan, Kohima, addressed by AICC observer for Nagaland Pranav Shagotra, Lok Sabha MP S. Supongmeren Jamir and NPCC working president Khriedi Theunuo. Shagotra alleged that Kumar, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, was responsible for voter-list manipulation and deletion of names. He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had repeatedly sought access to voter lists but had been denied the information.
Questioning the presence of deceased persons and duplicate entries in electoral rolls, Shagotra said Gandhi had continued to pursue the issue by presenting data and allegations of manipulation. He demanded Kumar’s resignation.
Shagotra said the Congress would visit every district to examine voter deletions and verify the number of affected electors. He also announced a protest rally on November 1, which he said would be addressed by Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other opposition leaders.
He urged the public to speak out against alleged electoral irregularities and accused the ruling government of fostering communal divisions in the name of religion.
On the electoral roll figures, Supongmeren said that out of 1,357,208 voters, the Election Commission had received records relating to 1,199,456, leaving a difference of 157,752 entries.
He said the entries had reportedly been classified under categories including untraceable voters, permanently shifted voters, deceased persons, voters already enrolled and other classifications.
The party was examining whether the classifications and deletions were justified, he added.
Supongmeren said booth level agents (BLAs) had been appointed by political parties to monitor the process, while another round of revision was under way. He said observers were also visiting different areas and reiterated that the Congress wanted to ensure justice for every voter.
On the sidelines, Theunuo referred to an October 12 communication from state election authorities stating that no eligible voter would be left out of the electoral rolls. He urged all eligible voters to come forward and enrol their names.
He also said the Election Commission had instructed booth level officers (BLOs) to conduct house-to-house visits to identify eligible voters.
Cong observer demands CEC’s removal: AICC observer Banna Gupta has demanded the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that electoral institutions had lost their independence and elections needed greater transparency to safeguard democracy.
Addressing the media at Congress Bhavan on Tuesday, Gupta said the Congress campaign aimed to protect democracy, ensure transparent elections and safeguard the country’s future.
He accused the BJP-led government of using institutions such as the CBI and Enforcement Directorate for political advantage since 2014. Criticising its economic policies, he cited rising fuel prices, rupee depreciation, unemployment, mounting foreign debt and privatisation of public sector enterprises.
Gupta claimed petrol and diesel prices rose by 41% and 71%, respectively, between 2016 and 2026, while the rupee depreciated from around Rs 58 against the US dollar in 2014 to approximately Rs 96. He also alleged that unemployment among educated youth had increased significantly.
He questioned the growing wealth of industrialist Gautam Adani and alleged that corporate groups, including the Adani and Ambani groups, benefited from the allocation of land and other resources. He also criticised the transfer of public assets, citing coal companies, MTNL, BSNL, railways, airports, ports, Air India and IDBI Bank.
On electoral reforms, Gupta criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise was being used to exclude eligible voters, despite its stated purpose of removing deceased voters and duplicate registrations.
He said the Congress would organise protests nationwide against the alleged misuse of institutions, erosion of democratic processes and transfer of national assets to private interests. He also referred to a proposed agitation at the Red Fort and another programme scheduled for the first of the month, without specifying the month.
Gupta said defending democratic rights and constitutional institutions remained central to the Congress’s role. NPCC working president Khriedi Theünuo and KDCC president Ketseiyie Mere were also present.