Aldona

Goa Congress leaders took aim at the BJP-led government and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. They called it a move to cut voters, not strengthen democracy.

Goa Congress in-charge Manikrao Thakare was blunt about it. "BJP has won the last five elections, but it cannot assume it has the right to decide who should vote and who should not," he said in Margao. He also pointed out that the Election Commission is a constitutional body, not an extension of the government. He warned that Congress would fight "from the streets to the courts".

Goa Youth Congress workers held a protest at Azad Maidan. They demanded the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. Youth Congress president Archit Naik called the CEC a "puppet of Modi".

Questions Raised Over SIR Process

Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira questioned how clear the SIR process really is. He said BJP was using the voter list revision as a political tool ahead of upcoming elections.

Congress leaders asked the Election Commission to make sure no eligible voter is left out of the rolls. They said they would keep pushing until full clarity is achieved.

Goa Youth Congress staged a protest at Azad Maidan in Panaji against the Special Intiative Revision of electoral rolls. They targeted the BJP-led government and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

AICC Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare spoke strongly. He said BJP has won the last five elections, but that does not give it the right to decide who should vote. In his words, if a voter is removed, democracy is removed. I found his point hard to dismiss.

From the Streets to the Courts

"The BJP should fight elections with votes, not with deletions," Thakare said. He added that Congress will take this fight from the streets to the courts to protect every eligible voter.

Youth Congress president Archit Shantaram Naik called Gyanesh Kumar a puppet of Modi. Working president Sunil Kavthankar said the protest is about who gets to take part in our democracy. Aldona MLA Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira questioned the clarity of the SIR exercise. He raised concerns over 13.39 crore electors categorised under ASDD during the draft stage.

South Goa MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes called it a black day for democracy. He backed Rahul Gandhi's nationwide campaign against the SIR process. Congress leaders demand the CEC's resignation and warned they will push harder until every genuine voter is protected.

Goa Congress MLA and advocate Carlos Alvares Ferreira has called Election Commission of India's latest measures an "admission of guilt" rather than a proper explanation of the issues raised against it.

Ferreira, who represents Aldona, was reacting to decisions announced after the ECI's Full Commission meeting held on September 26. He said the Commission failed to address serious concerns about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercises conducted so far.

Questions on the house-to-house visit process

He questioned the new house-to-house visit process for voters who received notices over unmapped records. Under this system, officials will collect documents from such voters and upload them on ECINET for the Electoral Registration Officer to consider. "Why was this exercise not done during the Goa SIR?" Ferreira asked. He pointed out that voters in Goa were instead made to appear at Mamlatdar offices. That discouraged many from pursuing their claims.

Ferreira also alleged that the exercise shifted from being inclusive to exclusive. He claimed people from particular religious communities and localities were affected the most. He raised concerns about deletion of names from electoral rolls. Losing an election card, he argued, could affect access to government services and benefits.

Concerns over voter forms

On voter forms, he questioned ECI's decision to revert to the earlier Form 6 during non-SIR periods. He argued the older form was prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. He also alleged the current form had been introduced without proper legislative approval. "By this they admit that they changed the forms unilaterally and without the required legislative authorization," he said.

ECI has announced a review committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner. The committee includes an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT. It will review ECINET and check whether the system complies with relevant Acts and Rules.

Demands for accountability

Ferreira also criticised the Commission's internal working. He alleged Full Commission meetings were held without agendas shared in advance. He called for accountability at the top. He demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should resign. He also asked that the other two Election Commissioners be held responsible for their failure to act earlier.