TMC MP Demands Removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar Amid Massive Protests
TMC MP Saugata Roy demands the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and cancellation of the SIR process amid massive INDIA bloc protests in Delhi.
The political atmosphere in the national capital reached a boiling point on Tuesday as Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saugata Roy launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI). Roy demanded the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and called for the total cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
The demand comes as members of the INDIA bloc converged for a series of coordinated demonstrations and protest marches, targeting what they describe as a systemic assault on the democratic franchise through discrepancies in the electoral rolls.
"BJP Will Defend Gyanesh Kumar"
Speaking to the media amidst the chaos, Saugata Roy accused the poll panel's leadership of compromising institutional integrity. He dismissed any defense of the CEC from the ruling party, suggesting that the government's stance was predictable.
"We want Gyanesh Kumar to be removed. We want the SIR process to be cancelled. What BJP is saying really doesn't matter. They are the ruling party, and they will naturally try to defend Gyanesh Kumar, who has played havoc with the voters' list and the SIR..."
Roy argued that the scale of disputes regarding the voter lists made any counter-statements from the ruling party lack credibility.
Allegations of a Systemic Conspiracy
The protests were not limited to Roy's remarks. Congress MP Syed Nasir Hussain joined the fray, demanding accountability for what he termed a "systemic conspiracy" against voters. Hussain insisted that all deleted votes must be restored to the lists and called for a high-level inquiry to expose the forces behind these alleged manipulations.
"Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should go. SIR should be scrapped. All the deleted votes should be put back into the voters' list," Hussain asserted.
High Drama in Delhi: MPs Climb Barricades
The streets of Delhi witnessed intense drama as INDIA bloc leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, participated in a march towards the ECI headquarters. In a show of defiance, several MPs were seen climbing atop heavy iron barriers near the NITI Aayog office while waving the national tricolour.
The protest march saw a massive turnout of opposition heavyweights, including:
- Rahul Gandhi: Who took to social media to demand the CEC's resignation, posting, "Gyanesh, it’s done, bro. Time to resign."
- Mallikarjun Kharge: The Congress president, who accused the government of stripping away the universal adult franchise.
- Priyanka Gandhi and Supriya Sule: Among several other prominent leaders who joined the march.
- Zia-ur-Rehman Barq: Seen participating in the demonstrations alongside fellow Samajwadi Party MPs.
As Delhi Police attempted to halt the advancing march along the high-security corridor leading to Nirvachan Sadan, protesters raised slogans demanding the resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
The "Save Democracy" Campaign
This latest confrontation is part of a broader "Save Democracy" campaign spearheaded by the Opposition. The movement focuses on alleged discrepancies in electoral rolls and a lack of transparency within the poll panel. As the INDIA bloc continues its sustained campaign, the political standoff between the Opposition and the Election Commission is expected to intensify in the coming days.