Congress alleges 6,547 voters were deleted or untraced in Wokha and raises concerns over electoral roll revision in Nagaland
KOHIMA/WOKHA — The Congress on Tuesday intensified its nationwide “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” campaign in Nagaland, accusing the BJP-led Central government of misusing independent institutions, undermining democratic processes and pursuing economic policies that have increased public hardship.
Addressing a press conference organised by the Kohima District Congress Committee (KDCC) at Congress Bhavan, Kohima, AICC observer Banna Gupta called for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that independent institutions, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), were being used for political gains.
Accompanied by Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) working president Khriedi Theunuo and KDCC president Ketseiyie Mere, Gupta said the campaign aimed to protect democracy, safeguard voting rights and ensure free and fair elections.
Questioning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, he said such exercises were traditionally intended to remove the names of deceased persons and duplicate registrations.
However, he alleged that the current process had raised concerns about the exclusion of eligible voters and electoral transparency, citing developments in West Bengal as an example.
Also read: Congress flags 1.57 lakh voter gap in Nagaland, seeks CEC’s removal
Gupta said the Congress, under party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, would continue its nationwide campaign to protect democratic rights.
He also referred to a planned protest at the Red Fort as part of the movement.
Criticising the Centre's economic policies, Gupta cited rising fuel prices, rupee depreciation, unemployment and increasing national debt. He claimed petrol and diesel prices had risen by 41% and 71%, respectively, between 2016 and 2026, while the rupee had weakened from around INR 58 against the US dollar in 2014 to approximately INR 96.
He further claimed that unemployment among educated youth had increased from 15% in 2014 to 40% in 2026, leaving many graduates struggling to find jobs.
He also alleged that India's debt had risen from INR 55 lakh crore during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tenure to INR 214 lakh crore.
Accusing the Centre of favouring privatisation, Gupta cited public sector enterprises and infrastructure, including Bharat Coking Coal Limited, Central Coalfields Limited, MTNL, BSNL, railways, airports and ports.
He also referred to Air India and IDBI Bank while alleging that public assets were increasingly being transferred to private interests.
Gupta alleged that corporate groups led by Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani had benefited from government policies.
He questioned the concentration of wealth and raised concerns over the allocation of public land and resources to large corporations on favourable terms.
On environmental issues, he contrasted the Prime Minister's appeal to plant trees in the name of daughters with what he described as large-scale tree felling for corporate projects.
Describing the press as the fourth pillar of democracy, Gupta urged the media to highlight issues affecting ordinary citizens, particularly the poor and marginalised. He said the Congress would continue its campaign to safeguard voting rights, democratic institutions and public resources.
6,547 voters deleted or untraced in Wokha
Meanwhile, the Wokha District Congress Committee (WDCC) held a press conference at Congress Bhavan, Wokha, as part of the same campaign, alleging discrepancies in electoral rolls.
AICC observer Pranav Shagotra claimed that more than 38,000 voters had been identified as deleted or untraced across five districts under his charge.
In Wokha district, he said, 6,547 voters out of 1,88,018 electors were found to be deleted or untraced.
Shagotra said district Congress leaders and workers had been tasked with approaching the District Election Officer to seek rectification of the alleged discrepancies.
He added that supporting evidence had been provided to party workers to facilitate the process.
He was accompanied by Nagaland Lok Sabha MP S Supongmeren Jamir and senior state and district Congress functionaries.
Jamir said the campaign sought to safeguard citizens' rights, uphold democratic values and draw attention to concerns surrounding the integrity of the electoral process.
Congress leaders also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The programme concluded with party workers reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the Congress organisation at the grassroots level and raising public awareness about electoral issues across Wokha district.