Pressure mounts on Gyanesh Kumar as NDA allies seek answers, opposition takes to streets

NEW DELHI: The pressure on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar intensified on Friday after NDA allies also called on the Election Commission to clarify concerns surrounding the revision of electoral rolls and reported differences within the poll panel.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) publicly sought greater clarity from the Election Commission. Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan said the CEC had a responsibility to address doubts among the public and protect confidence in the electoral process. “If questions are being raised about the Election Commission, which is an independent constitutional body, the responsibility lies with the CEC to present his stance clearly,” Paswan said. He added that the Commission needed to address the concerns of the public, rather than respond specifically to Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.

TDP Lok Sabha floor leader Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu said that while the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise had been conducted transparently in Andhra Pradesh, a clarification from the Election Commission would help strengthen public confidence. RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha also called for an immediate clarification, saying the controversy had created confusion among the public.

The statements came after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period regarding decisions and processes connected with electoral rolls and the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has maintained that differences of opinion are part of institutional deliberations and that its final decisions, including those relating to the SIR, were unanimous.

Opposition parties and Left student organisations took to the streets across the country on Friday, demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. The Congress organised protests and marches to Election Commission offices in several states.

In Delhi, protests were held near the Election Commission headquarters and at Jantar Mantar, while Congress workers also marched towards the BJP headquarters. Security was tightened around the Election Commission office as protesters gathered.

An SFI march towards the Election Commission headquarters also saw the participation of CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MPs V. Sivadasan and A.A. Rahim. The two MPs were detained by police along with other protesters during the demonstration.

Meanwhile, two voter-awareness programmes that Gyanesh Kumar was scheduled to attend in Uttar Pradesh have been postponed indefinitely. The programmes included a regional Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELC) 2.0 conference in Meerut and an interaction with young voters in Varanasi scheduled for September 28. The Election Commission said the decision to postpone the programmes was taken on September 21 and was unrelated to the ongoing controversy, citing routine factors such as venue availability and the schedules of senior officials.

Security has also been increased at the Election Commission office and Gyanesh Kumar’s residence amid the protests and heightened political activity.

A public interest litigation has meanwhile been filed in the Supreme Court seeking action against Gyanesh Kumar over alleged decisions concerning the SIR exercise. The petition seeks prosecution under the Representation of the People Act and an investigation by a judicial commission or Special Investigation Team into an allegation that 13 crore voters were deleted from electoral rolls during the exercise. The allegations are contained in the petition and have not been established by the court.

The Opposition has also begun efforts to move a removal motion against Gyanesh Kumar in Parliament. Congress has reached out to other Opposition parties over the proposed motion, with party sources saying it could be submitted in both Houses within two weeks.