Amid calls from the Opposition demanding the sacking and impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar amid the SIR row, former Delhi
Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung used strong words and said that whatever the poll body is doing, it is acting unlawfully. The former Delhi LG joined the opposition's chorus and said that all three election commissioners should be removed and replaced by new ones. He also called for scrapping the Special Intensive Revision and annulling the elections conducted based on the post-SIR voter list. Najeeb Jung's criticism has come after the Indian Express report said that the two election commissioners had objected to some clauses related to the SIR exercise, the inclusion of Form 6 for first-time voters among other issues. The report claimed that the two ECs had flagged 14 objections over a 10-month period. Ever since this report surfaced, the Opposition has been attacking the government from right, left, and centre, alleging that decisions made by the poll body over electoral revision were not taken unanimously and has been demanding action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. "Our view is that whatever the Election Commission is doing, it is acting unlawfully. All three commissioners should be removed and replaced by new ones; SIR should be scrapped, and the elections conducted under it should be annulled," said Najeeb Jung. Opposition parties, including the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Trinamool Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT), have also called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Former CEC SY Quraishi Questions Poll Body
Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi said the Election Commission's recent press note "actually works against them", alleging that the poll panel's own statement acknowledged several shortcomings in its functioning.
Oppn Mounts Pressure On Govt
Protests by the Congress and some other opposition parties for resignation of Gyanesh Kumar continued on Monday with leaders questioning the way decisions had been taken concerning the SIR of voters lists and the process of addition and deletion of voters.
Congress units held protest in some state capitals and also in some districts.
In the national capital, Indian Youth Congress workers, led by the organisation's chief Uday Bhanu Chib, staged a protest.
In an X post, IYC said Gyanesh Kumar will face the law. “…Hide anywhere from the BJP office to wherever.. But you will have to go to jail," it added.
Congress workers also staged protest in Uttarakhand. At many places, Congress workers also burnt effigies of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Assam Congress leaders staged a protest at the Manbendra Sarma Complex in Guwahati over “vote chori” allegations and protested against Gyanesh Kumar.
Congress workers in Malappuram in Kerala organised a march to the district collectorate and demanded resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. Protesters raised slogans against the BJP-led government.
Congress workers protested outside the Collector’s office in Surat in Gujarat, alleging irregularities by the Election Commission. They demanded resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. Police detained the protesters.
Congress workers in Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh also staged protests. In Jaipur, Rajasthan Police resorted to water cannons to deal with protestors.
With inputs from ANI
