The INDIA bloc’s next round of protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar may begin in early November, following the upcoming rally at the Ramlila Ground on November 1.
He reminded that both the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, and the Congress general secretary, KC Venugopal, had announced that the protests will continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigns. “Various options are being considered at this stage. With the political success of our marches in the heart of Delhi, some leaders want a repetition of that massive mobilisation. Another idea is to hold a mock Parliament that will enact the impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar. A senior Congress leader added that there are no concrete plans but “things are being chalked out by the top leadership. President Droupadi Murmu sought proof of vote-chori from the Opposition. Gandhi. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders alleged in the petition that there was “unilateral and arbitrary exercise of the collective powers of the Election Commission of India by the Chief Election Commissioner during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They demanded review of key decisions to seek protection of the Constitutional guarantee of universal adult suffrage. There would be someone who will also defend Kumar, but the whole show would be to underline how Kumar is guilty on many counts. No party will unilaterally decide everything. The INDIA bloc will also form a coordination committee, drawing members from various constituent parties to oversee all protest plans.
Even as preparations have already begun by the Congress and other parties for the Ramlila Ground rally, senior leaders are discussing how to regain the momentum of the protests, which came to a halt due to Navaratri and Durga Puja. The Opposition met President Droupadi Murmu on October 9 to demand “resignation of Kumar and repeal of the 2023 law that provides life-long immunity to the CEC and the ECs. They sought “immediate suspension of the SIR and immediate restoration of all 13.3 crore voters illegally deleted from electoral rolls. On October 12, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi led the biggest march in recent times—to file a petition to the Supreme Court.
Other steps have also been suggested,” CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby told HT. When asked about the mock parliament, Baby said, “We will invite eminent jurists and former Supreme Court judges and conduct a mock trial to impeach Gyanesh Kumar. Another senior leader of the Opposition, who did not wish to be named, said, “the final decision on how to proceed will be taken collectively.
