'Our target is CEC who has cheated public': Mamata Banerjee arrives in Delhi
Mamata Banerjee arrives in Delhi for the INDIA bloc meeting, targeting CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities and public cheating.
West Bengal leader Mamata Banerjee arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday, marking a significant escalation in the opposition's confrontation with the Election Commission of India. Her arrival sets the stage for the high-stakes INDIA bloc meeting scheduled for Wednesday, where opposition heavyweights are expected to coordinate a massive response to alleged electoral irregularities.
Speaking to the media upon her arrival, Banerjee did not mince words, directing her sharpest criticism toward the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar. The Trinamool Congress leader accused the CEC and his technical team of deceiving the electorate.
'Vanish Kumar': Mamata's stinging attack on CEC
In a scathing verbal assault, Banerjee targeted the integrity of the current election leadership. She even coined a derogatory nickname for the Chief Election Commissioner during her press interaction.
"We have come here for the INDIA bloc meeting... Our target is the Chief Election Commissioner and his entire software team, who cheated the public... We have been calling him 'Vanish Kumar'," Banerjee stated.
The opposition's fury stems from recent reports suggesting deep-seated issues within the electoral process. Specifically, an investigative report highlighted that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period regarding decisions and procedures linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Congress demands CEC's resignation
The tension in the capital is further heightened by the recent developments within the Congress party. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) held a crucial meeting at the AICC headquarters on Tuesday, passing a series of intense resolutions. The party has formally demanded:
- The immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- The suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- The restoration of 13 crore 30 lakh names that the party claims were unlawfully removed from the rolls.
The CWC characterized the current situation as a "grave danger to democracy," alleging that the electoral process is being captured by the RSS-BJP with the alleged support of the Election Commission. The Congress leadership echoed concerns previously raised by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding "Vote Chori" (vote theft), citing issues ranging from EVM integrity to the selective enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.
The Election Commission's Stance
While the opposition prepares for what could be a nationwide protest, the Election Commission has moved to defend its institutional integrity. The Commission has rejected the notion that the reported internal objections represented a state of institutional dissent. Instead, the ECI maintains that all decisions related to the SIR exercise were reached with the unanimous approval of the Commission.
As the INDIA bloc leaders gather tomorrow, the focus remains on whether the opposition can translate this rhetoric into a unified, nationwide movement against the current electoral administration.