"Gyanesh Kumar must step down": D Raja backs Thackeray brothers' march
CPI leader D Raja supports Uddhav and Raj Thackeray's protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over electoral roll revisions.
In a significant show of political unity, Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary D Raja has thrown his weight behind the joint protest march led by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. The protest, aimed at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, centers on the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
A United Front in Mumbai
The protest saw a rare moment of convergence as the Thackeray brothers led a march toward the BMC headquarters. D Raja described the rally as an "encouraging and inspiring" movement that signals a growing wave of public discontent across the country.
Speaking to the media, Raja emphasized that the anger is not confined to the national capital. "The protests are all over, and people are expressing their anger, their agony," Raja stated. He was blunt regarding the leadership of the Election Commission, asserting that "Gyanesh Kumar must understand; he must step down" because he has failed to respect the demands and frustrations of the people.
Allegations of Mass Voter Deletion
Uddhav Thackeray framed the protest as a fight for the very survival of democracy. He accused the current administration of launching a direct attack on voters' rights, using harsh rhetoric to describe the current state of affairs.
"We are standing here today to overthrow the dictator," Thackeray declared during the march. He leveled serious allegations regarding the integrity of the electoral rolls, claiming:
- The names of approximately 13 crore people have been deleted from electoral rolls nationwide.
- Voters have been systematically excluded in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
- The Home Ministry is allegedly using the CEC to bypass citizenship rights.
Thackeray questioned the legality of these actions, asking if the Home Ministry possesses the power to cancel a person's citizenship rights through such administrative maneuvers.
Demands for Ballot Papers and SIR Cancellation
While Uddhav Thackeray focused on the broader democratic implications, Raj Thackeray centered his demands on the specific electoral processes within Maharashtra. He called for an immediate halt to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state.
Raj Thackeray went a step further by proposing a fundamental shift in how Indian elections are conducted. His demands included:
- The total cancellation of the SIR conducted in Maharashtra.
- A nationwide movement to demand the cancellation of the SIR exercise.
- The discontinuation of voting machines.
- A return to using ballot papers for conducting elections.
The joint march marks a period of intense friction between opposition leaders and the Election Commission, as political forces in Maharashtra signal their intent to challenge the current electoral administration on a national scale.