TVK to attend INDIA bloc consultative meeting demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam joins the INDIA bloc consultative meeting to demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over electoral concerns.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is set to join the INDIA bloc in a high-stakes consultative meeting this Saturday, as the opposition alliance intensifies its campaign to demand the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Opposition Alliance Targets Election Commission
Represented by party leaders Aadhav Arjuna and Maria Wilson, TVK will participate in the discussions aimed at addressing growing concerns over the integrity of the electoral process. The primary objective of the meeting is to consolidate the opposition's stance on several critical issues that they claim threaten the democratic fabric of the nation.
The push for the CEC's resignation follows a series of intense discussions held by top opposition leaders at the Constitution Club on September 30. During those sessions, the alliance raised serious allegations regarding:
- Electoral Roll Irregularities: Concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- EVM Integrity: Growing skepticism regarding the functioning and security of Electronic Voting Machines.
- Administrative Conduct: Demands for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar following reports of procedural concerns.
These demands gain further weight following reports suggesting 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 related to the SIR exercise and other electoral matters.
A "Do-or-Die" Fight for Democracy
The political tension has reached a boiling point, with Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal describing the current struggle as a "do-or-die" fight for the Congress party and the entire INDIA alliance. Venugopal has accused the central leadership of using the Election Commission of India to "snatch" the votes of common citizens.
"This is for saving the democracy of the country, saving the vote for a common man," Venugopal stated, adding that the opposition is prepared for the legal consequences of their protests. "We are ready to go to jail to save democracy. Let them prepare all the jails to fill us."
Widespread Protests Erupt Across India
The movement against the Election Commission is not limited to political offices; it has spilled onto the streets of major Indian cities:
- Mumbai: Activists from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and various civil society organisations staged a protest at Shivaji Park, alleging irregularities in the SIR exercise.
- Delhi: Members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), alongside opposition leaders, held demonstrations near Jantar Mantar.
The opposition alliance has signaled that this is only the beginning of a sustained campaign. The INDIA bloc has already outlined a roadmap for future demonstrations, including a planned programme on October 6 and a massive rally scheduled to take place in Delhi on November 1.