'Until BJP is removed, things won't change', says Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleges collusion between BJP and the Election Commission amid growing scrutiny over electoral processes.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has launched a scathing attack on the central government and the Election Commission, alleging a deep-seated collusion between the two. Speaking to reporters in Lucknow, Yadav claimed that the impartiality of India's constitutional bodies is under threat as long as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains in power.
Allegations of Collusion and Injustice
The Samajwadi Party leader suggested that the current administration is attempting to manipulate processes to maintain its grip on power. He argued that as governments sense their tenure nearing an end, they often resort to unfair tactics to stay relevant.
"Governments become weak when their time to leave approaches; that is when they resort to injustice. They file false cases and exert pressure on people," Yadav stated. He further escalated his rhetoric by suggesting that the BJP and the Election Commission are working in tandem to influence electoral outcomes. "It appears the BJP and the Election Commission are conducting elections in collusion," he added.
Yadav also made provocative remarks regarding the ideology of those currently in power, linking them to historical figures accused of anti-democratic actions. He concluded that real change would only be possible once the BJP is ousted and the integrity of constitutional bodies is restored.
The Spark: Reports of Internal Dissent
The political firestorm follows recent reports regarding internal friction within the Election Commission. According to reports, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over a ten-month period. These objections reportedly concerned:
- Decisions and procedures related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
- Issues involving Form 6.
- The deletion of voters from electoral rolls.
- Access to electoral-roll databases.
The Election Commission has dismissed these claims of institutional dissent. The poll panel maintained that the queries and suggestions raised during the draft stages were standard administrative inputs and that all final decisions, including the SIR exercise schedule, were made unanimously.
Nationwide Protests and Political Unrest
The controversy has moved from political statements to street demonstrations across the country. The opposition's campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has gained significant momentum:
Protests in Mumbai and Delhi
In Mumbai, activists from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and other civil society groups staged demonstrations at Shivaji Park, alleging irregularities in the SIR exercise. Meanwhile, in the national capital, members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) joined opposition leaders near Jantar Mantar to demand the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The tension in Delhi led to police intervention. Several opposition figures, including AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj, were detained as authorities enforced prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
The INDIA Bloc's Roadmap
The opposition is not backing down. The INDIA bloc has signaled that its campaign against the Election Commission will intensify, with scheduled protests on October 6 and a massive rally planned for Delhi on November 1.