1 hr ago
Opposition Rally in Vijayawada Demands CEC Resignation Over SIR
Opposition and Left parties held a rally in Vijayawada on Friday.
Civil society groups joined them.
They were protesting a process that is checking and updating voter lists.
Some speakers said many people might lose their chance to vote if eligible names are left off the lists.
They asked the election chief to resign and called for changes to the Election Commission.
One Congress leader also asked for ballot papers instead of voting machines.
The Election Commission said the names missing from the draft lists have not been finally deleted.
It said people can still make claims and objections.
The rally ended with a public meeting at Lenin Centre.
Opposition and Left parties, along with civil society groups, rallied in Vijayawada on Friday against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Protesters demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, suspension of the SIR exercise and reforms to the Election Commission of India.
Opposition leaders alleged that more than 13 crore names were excluded from draft rolls nationwide and called for eligible voters’ names to be restored.
The Election Commission said the draft-roll exclusions are not final deletions and that the claims and objections process is still underway.
Speakers also called for greater transparency; Congress city president Naraharisetty Narasimha Rao called for ballot papers instead of EVMs.
- Who
- Opposition and Left parties, civil society organisations and other rally participants.
- What
- A rally demanding the CEC’s resignation, suspension of the SIR exercise and Election Commission reforms.
- Where
- Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh; the rally ended at Lenin Centre.
- When
- Friday; the article does not give a calendar date.
- Why
- Participants objected to the electoral-roll revision process and raised concerns about eligible voters’ names being excluded.
Protesters’ concerns
Election Commission’s clarification
Status of names missing from draft rolls
Protesters’ concerns
Opposition leaders alleged that more than 13 crore names were excluded nationwide and demanded that eligible voters be restored to the rolls.
Election Commission’s clarification
The Election Commission said the exclusions are not final deletions and that claims and objections are still being processed.
SIR process
Protesters’ concerns
Protesters demanded suspension of the SIR exercise, saying it could deprive eligible citizens of voting rights.
Election Commission’s clarification
The article reports the Election Commission’s explanation about the ongoing claims and objections process but gives no response to the demand to suspend SIR.
Key facts
- Location
- Vijayawada
- Day
- Friday
- Process at issue
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Chief Election Commissioner
- Gyanesh Kumar
- Alleged exclusions
- Opposition leaders alleged more than 13 crore names were excluded from draft rolls nationwide.
- Election Commission response
- It said draft-roll exclusions are not final deletions and the claims and objections process is underway.
- Route
- Tummalapalli Kalakshetram, Old Bus Stand and Eluru Road to Lenin Centre
Sources
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