As per reports, the INDIA bloc’s symbolic “public impeachment” programme against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar is underway at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence at 10 Rajaji Marg in New Delhi on Saturday (31 October).
The programme, initially scheduled for Friday (30 October), was postponed due to rainfall in the national capital and is being organised as part of the opposition’s campaign against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
• The proceedings are being presided over by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and attended by INDIA bloc leaders, Members of Parliament, civil society representatives and individuals who allege that their names were wrongly deleted from electoral rolls. Kharge moved the symbolic motion, while Rahul Gandhi delivered the concluding address.
• During the programme, Kharge levelled six allegations against CEC Kumar, including alleged manipulation of electoral rolls, deletion of 13.2 crore voters, amendments to Form 6 without parliamentary oversight, centralisation of electoral roll data through ERONET/ECINET, exclusion of the other two Election Commissioners from decision-making and alleged failure to function independently. The INDIA bloc demanded Kumar’s removal, an end to the SIR exercise and changes to the 2023 law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners.
• The resolution seeking the CEC’s removal was passed unanimously through a show of hands. Rahul Gandhi described the programme as a political effort to hold those allegedly involved in electoral irregularities accountable and warned that they would face consequences.
• The programme precedes a planned INDIA bloc march and rally in New Delhi on Sunday (01 November). The march is scheduled to commence at 1200 hours (local time) from the Minto Road–Connaught Place junction and culminate at Ramlila Maidan.
Categories: Political - Other
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