'Resign or We Fight': INDIA Bloc Launches Massive Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
KPCC President BK Hariprasad vows continued protests in Karnataka until CEC Gyanesh Kumar resigns and the Special Intensive Revision is scrapped.
The political atmosphere in Karnataka has reached a boiling point as the INDIA bloc launched a massive protest against the INDIA bloc protest SIR (Special Intensive Revision) of electoral rolls. Speaking at a high-voltage rally in Bengaluru, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President BK Hariprasad issued a stern ultimatum, declaring that the agitation will not cease until Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar steps down from his position.
Freedom Park Becomes Epicenter of Defiance
Bengaluru's Freedom Park witnessed a surge of opposition leaders and activists who gathered to demand the immediate resignation of Gyanesh Kumar and the complete scrapping of the SIR exercise. Hariprasad emphasized that this mobilization is not an isolated event but a continuation of the momentum built during the November 1 Ramlila rally.
He recalled the presence of senior leadership during the previous rally, noting that Rahul Gandhi, All India Congress Committee President Mallikarjun Kharge, and other prominent INDIA bloc leaders had already voiced their demands for the CEC's resignation and the termination of the SIR process.
“Today, the INDIA bloc is organising a massive protest against Mr Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR. All our INDIA bloc members are here. And till Gyanesh Kumar resigns, this protest will continue,” Hariprasad asserted.
A State-Wide Wave of Agitation
The protest is not limited to the state capital. Hariprasad revealed a strategic plan to expand the movement across the entire geography of Karnataka. He confirmed that District Congress Committee presidents were already leading protest rallies at various district headquarters on Thursday.
The roadmap for the agitation is clear: starting tomorrow, the protests will penetrate deeper into the administrative layers, reaching the talukas and blocks. The opposition has made it evident that they intend to keep the pressure mounting until their demands are met.
A Broad Coalition of Resistance
The protest, which was scheduled from 11 AM to 2 PM, showcased a wide spectrum of political and social unity. The event was presided over by heavyweights including Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and KPCC President BK Hariprasad.
The rally saw participation from a diverse array of political parties and figures, including:
- Political Parties: Congress, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, Forward Bloc, and Samajwadi Party.
- Key Leaders: Multilingual actor Prakash Raj, CPI(M) State Secretary Prakash K, CPI State Secretary Sathi Sundaresh, CPI(ML) Liberation State Secretary Clifton D'Rozario, Forward Bloc President JR Shivashankar, and Samajwadi Party President N Manjappa.
- Social & Youth Orgs: Representatives from Sarvodaya Karnataka, Eddelu Karnataka, the Federation of Dalit Organisations, and the Republican Party of India.
Security Tightened Amidst Rising Tensions
Given the scale of the gathering and the intensity of the rhetoric, the Bengaluru police deployed personnel in significant numbers at Freedom Park. The security measures were put in place to manage the crowd and ensure that the protest remained peaceful while the opposition voiced its concerns over the accountability of the Election Commission regarding the SIR exercise.