Himachal Congress holds statewide protest, demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
Himachal Pradesh Congress holds statewide protests demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.
The Himachal Pradesh Congress launched a massive statewide demonstration on Monday, targeting the Election Commission of India (ECI). The party is demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of making arbitrary and undemocratic decisions that undermine the electoral process.
The protests were not limited to the capital; Congress district units organized demonstrations across all 12 district headquarters in the state. In each location, party members submitted memoranda addressed to the President of India through their respective Deputy Commissioners.
Allegations of Electoral Irregularities
At the heart of the Congress party's grievance is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party alleges that the current revision process is being conducted in a manner that could unfairly disadvantage opposition voters. They have called for an independent investigation into the functioning of the poll panel to address these serious concerns.
In Shimla, the urban and rural wings of the District Congress Committee joined forces to submit their memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. This follows previous demonstrations held earlier this month, including a protest outside the Election Department office in Kasumpti.
"Monopoly" and "Vote Theft" Claims
Speaking to the media after the submission in Shimla, Harikrishna Himral, the District Congress Committee Shimla Rural president, raised stinging criticisms against the CEC. He alleged that even fellow Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, have expressed concerns regarding what appears to be a monopoly held by the Chief Election Commissioner.
Himral echoed the sentiments of senior leader Rahul Gandhi, who has frequently raised allegations of "vote chori" or vote theft. The Congress leader claimed that while the ground sentiment often appeared to favor the Congress, the results frequently favored the BJP, even in areas lacking significant development or prominent leadership.
Key allegations raised by the Congress include:
- Unilateral Decision-Making: Claims that the CEC is making undemocratic, one-sided decisions.
- Electoral Roll Manipulation: Concerns that the SIR process could disenfranchise a large number of voters who supported Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
- Harassment of Citizens: Himral highlighted the plight of elderly citizens, questioning why a 70-year-old veteran must undergo strenuous processes to prove their citizenship.
Threat of Intensified Campaign
The Congress party is not merely seeking a resignation; they are also demanding legal action against Gyanesh Kumar. The party has indicated that if their demands are not met, they will escalate their movement.
"We have submitted the memorandum today. Before this, we have burnt effigies. Now we will take this campaign to the constituency, block, and grassroots levels to create awareness," Himral stated, emphasizing that the right to vote is a fundamental right that must be protected.
While the party maintains it will continue to use peaceful and democratic means of protest, they warned that public dissatisfaction is growing over the perceived flaws in the electoral machinery.