'Gyanesh Kumar must resign': Pinarayi Vijayan slams CEC over Delhi protest
CPI(M) leaders including Pinarayi Vijayan and Brinda Karat demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar following protests in Delhi.
In a scathing attack on the Election Commission, former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The demand comes in the wake of intense protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, where several high-profile leaders and activists were reportedly arrested during a demonstration against the commission's recent actions.
Assault on Democratic Rights
Taking to the social media platform X, Vijayan expressed strong condemnation over the detention of prominent leaders. He highlighted that CPI(M) stalwarts, including MA Baby and Brinda Karat, along with various student and youth activists, were arrested while participating in a peaceful protest.
"The arrest of Comrade MA Baby, Comrade Brinda Karat and student-youth activists while they were peacefully protesting at Jantar Mantar is an assault on democratic rights," Vijayan stated. He further questioned the very foundation of the Election Commission's credibility, suggesting that its recent conduct has cast a shadow over the integrity of the entire electoral process.
"The Election Commission cannot retain public trust when its actions raise serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process. Gyanesh Kumar must take responsibility and resign," the former Chief Minister added.
Clash at Jantar Mantar
The unrest erupted as members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) gathered to protest against the Election Commission and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The demonstration proceeded despite the Delhi Police denying permission and imposing prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby, who was present at the site, alleged that the CEC has been "nakedly violating" the established rules that govern the functioning of the Election Commission. He went as far as to demand legal action against the official.
"Gyanesh Kumar should be arrested for the criminal activity of cutting people's votes," said MA Baby.
Baby noted that the mobilization was massive, with thousands of youth and student leaders traveling from across the country to Delhi. He insisted that the movement would not cease until the CEC is removed from his position.
Calls for Structural Reform
Adding weight to the protest, veteran leader Brinda Karat demanded an immediate halt to the SIR exercise and called for systemic changes to electoral laws. She emphasized that the current situation requires more than just a resignation; it requires a complete overhaul of how the commission operates.
"The main question is to make the CEC resign and remove him. He won't resign; he needs to be removed. The SIR must be stopped immediately, and the Election Commission must be fixed by changing the 2023 law," Karat asserted.
The CPI(M) leadership also directed sharp criticism toward the central government, accusing the Modi administration of using police force to suppress voices demanding electoral transparency. Vijayan concluded that state power cannot be used to silence the will of the people.