Congress escalates nationwide protests for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation ahead of INDIA Bloc meet; BJP hits back
Congress escalates nationwide protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, while BJP hits back at the opposition's allegations.
The political temperature in India has reached a boiling point as the Congress party launched a massive, countrywide campaign on Monday demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. From state capitals to remote districts, protestors took to the streets, setting effigies ablaze and clashing with security forces in a high-stakes battle over the integrity of the nation's electoral processes.
The unrest comes as the INDIA bloc prepares for a crucial meeting on September 30 to forge a united front against the Election Commission. The controversy was ignited by reports suggesting significant internal friction within the poll panel, specifically regarding the Special Internal Review (SIR) process and voter list management.
Nationwide Unrest and Police Crackdowns
The scale of the protests has been unprecedented, with Congress state units in Gujarat, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Assam, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi all mobilizing simultaneously. The demonstrations were met with heavy-handed responses from law enforcement in several regions:
- Jaipur: Police deployed water cannons to disperse Congress workers and leaders.
- Delhi: Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav was detained by police during a protest.
- Assam: Leaders gathered at the Manbendra Sarma Complex in Guwahati to protest against alleged "vote chori" (vote theft).
- Uttarakhand: Protests were staged across the state, with party leaders expressing deep indignation.
The intensity of the movement was echoed by the Left parties. CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby and other leaders marched through New Delhi, pledging to protect the fundamental right to vote and the sanctity of democracy.
The Core of the Controversy: SIR and Voter Deletions
At the heart of the opposition's fury are allegations regarding the SIR process. Reports indicated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period. These disagreements reportedly touched upon sensitive electoral matters, including:
- The handling of Form 6.
- The mass deletion of voters from electoral rolls.
- Access to vital electoral-roll databases.
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi intensified the rhetoric during a visit to the Yamuna banks in Delhi. He alleged that the SIR process was being used as a tool for "vote theft," claiming that in one instance, only one resident remained on the voter list out of 728. "Gyanesh Kumar will go," Gandhi asserted, "But the system that made him do this will also have to answer."
Other senior leaders joined the fray, with Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal describing the deletion of voters as a "criminal act," and Pawan Khera arguing that amending Form 6 without Parliamentary approval was entirely illegal.
The Election Commission and BJP Respond
The Election Commission has firmly rejected the notion of institutional dissent. The poll panel maintained that any queries or suggestions raised during the draft stages are part of standard administrative procedures and that all final decisions, including those related to the SIR, were reached unanimously with the approval of all three commissioners.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a counter-offensive, accusing the opposition of attempting to destabilize democratic institutions. Union Health Minister JP Nadda accused the Congress and its allies of misleading the public to create confusion regarding the Election Commission's credibility. The BJP has maintained a stance that "truth can never be defeated," framing the opposition's protests as an attempt to undermine the electoral system.
The Road Ahead: INDIA Bloc Meeting
With the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Trinamool Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT) all demanding the CEC's exit, all eyes are now on the upcoming INDIA bloc meeting on September 30. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram indicated that the meeting would involve "free and frank discussions" to decide the opposition's next steps in this escalating confrontation.