INDIA Bloc to March Against CEC Amid SC Observations on Form 6
Ahead of the INDIA bloc march against the CEC, the Supreme Court's observations on Form 6 modifications provide significant momentum to the opposition.
The political tension in the national capital is set to escalate as the INDIA bloc march against CEC begins on Tuesday. This massive demonstration comes at a critical juncture, following significant observations made by the Supreme Court regarding the modification of Form 6, providing a major boost to the opposition's campaign against the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Supreme Court Questions Form 6 Modifications
The momentum for the opposition shifted significantly after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made striking observations during a hearing. The court was addressing a plea seeking the suspension and prosecution of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The bench made it clear that the judiciary had not sanctioned the changes being implemented.
"We Have Not Approved It," Says CJI
During the proceedings, the Chief Justice was blunt regarding the recent changes to electoral documentation. "Any modified Form 6 has not been approved by us. Let's be clear. When the record is produced, we would like to see who has modified," CJI Surya Kant observed. This judicial stance has directly challenged the previous assertions made by the poll panel.
Opposition Leaders Slam CEC Gyanesh Kumar
The opposition has seized upon these judicial remarks to intensify their criticism of the current leadership at the ECI. RJD MP Manoj Jha and CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar have been vocal in their condemnation, suggesting that the CEC's actions have compromised the integrity of the democratic process.
Manoj Jha questioned the very foundation of upcoming electoral preparations in light of the court's stance. "Yesterday, the Honourable Supreme Court said that we had not even approved Form 6. It also said that all unilateral decisions should be annulled. So, is there any preparation left?" Jha asked. He further claimed that "no election can be fair" under the current chairmanship of Gyanesh Kumar, stating that the country's democracy has been reduced to a "diminished state."
Allegations of Misleading the Nation
CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar leveled even harsher accusations, alleging that the CEC had misled the public by claiming that the Supreme Court had ratified the changes to Form 6. "On 26th September the Election Commission issued a statement in which it was stated that the Supreme Court had ratified their position... But with yesterday's observation, one thing has become quite clear. Gyanesh Kumar was lying, and he was misleading the nation in the name of the Supreme Court," Kumar stated.
Kumar further expanded the scope of the opposition's grievances, linking the Form 6 controversy to existing allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft). He argued that this issue has now become a central charge against the CEC's administration.
The March to Nirvachan Sadan
The scheduled march to Nirvachan Sadan, the headquarters of the Election Commission, is part of the broader "Save Democracy" campaign. The opposition is demanding:
- The sacking of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Greater transparency regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
- An investigation into alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls.
As leaders from various INDIA bloc parties converge on the capital, the confrontation between the opposition and the poll panel is expected to reach a fever pitch, driven by the recent judicial scrutiny of the commission's unilateral decisions.