New Delhi: INDIA bloc leaders have finalised the procedure for a symbolic “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The
opposition plans to hold the proceedings at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence on Friday as a protest over the “vote chori” issue. The leaders met at Kharge’s residence in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss how the proceedings would be conducted. Kharge was away in Bengaluru at the time. Opposition MPs are scheduled to take part in a mock Parliament sitting on Friday. Congress general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal attended the meeting, along with TMC’s Derek O’Brien, Samajwadi Party’s Harendra Malik, JMM’s Mahua Maji, CPI(M)’s John Brittas and CPI’s Sandosh Kumar, among others.
One speaker from each party, key issues to be discussed
After the meeting, Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said the leaders had discussed the procedure for the “public impeachment” of Kumar.
“Most of the INDIA bloc leaders were present and we went through all the points on how to proceed with the public impeachment,” he said.
Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said the mock Parliament would discuss issues related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged vote theft.
“We want every important issue related to the SIR and vote theft to be discussed. The pain of the people and the attack on democracy should be brought to light through discussion, and people should be encouraged that we are all united in saving democracy. A message of unity will go out tomorrow,” Gogoi said.
Samajwadi Party leader Harendra Malik said one representative from each party would speak during the proceedings. The party leader could address the gathering or nominate another member to speak on their behalf, he added.
Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, Kharge said the opposition would continue its protest over what he described as the “vote theft and the mischief” carried out by CEC Kumar.
“We are protesting against that and will continue to do so. All parties are supporting us. Even tomorrow, there is mock Parliament and on November 1, we are having this rally and people from across the country are coming. We will fight. In a democracy, if you don't fight, people will not be awakened,” the Congress president said.
Opposition targets CEC over SIR, alleges electoral irregularities
On Wednesday, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the INDIA bloc would hold the symbolic “public impeachment” at Kharge’s residence at 3.30 pm on October 30 after being denied permission to use other venues.
In a post on X, Ramesh accused Kumar of violating the Constitution and undermining electoral democracy.
“The CEC has demonstrably violated the letter and spirit of the Constitution. He has systematically subverted the very foundations of our electoral democracy. He has, to put it bluntly, lied to the Supreme Court,” Ramesh said.
“He has been the willing executioner on behalf of the Diabolical Duo whose turn will come next,” he said, in an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Congress had also claimed on Tuesday that it was denied permission to hold the event at other locations. The party accused the government of trying to “silence” the voice of common people after “destroying” the electoral system.
The Congress and other opposition parties have been demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
