1 hr ago
Opposition MPs Stage Sit-In Demanding Election Chief’s Resignation
Opposition lawmakers in India marched toward the Election Commission to ask its chief, Gyanesh Kumar, to resign.
Police stopped them before they reached the office, so the lawmakers sat down on the road to protest.
They say there are problems with a project to revise voter lists and with a form used to register voters.
The Supreme Court said it had not approved a changed version of the form and would check the Election Commission’s records.
The Election Commission says its members agreed on the voter-list decisions.
The lawmakers questioned the large security presence around their march.
Rahul Gandhi wrote online that Kumar should resign.
INDIA bloc MPs, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, marched from Parliament toward the Election Commission on Tuesday and were stopped by police on Parliament Street.
The MPs sat in protest near the NITI Aayog office and demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Opposition leaders linked their demand to alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists and disputed changes to Form 6.
The Supreme Court said it had not approved a modified Form 6 and would examine Election Commission records to determine whether changes were made and who authorised them.
The Election Commission rejected suggestions of divisions within its three-member body and said decisions on the revision were unanimous.
- Who
- INDIA bloc MPs, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi; Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was the target of their demand.
- What
- MPs marched toward the Election Commission, were stopped by police, and staged a sit-in demanding Kumar’s resignation.
- Where
- Parliament Street, near the NITI Aayog office in New Delhi.
- When
- Tuesday, October 6; the articles do not specify the year.
- Why
- Opposition parties cited alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and disputed changes to Form 6.
Opposition claims
Election Commission response
Voter-list revision and Form 6
Opposition claims
Opposition leaders alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision and said the Commission’s account of the Supreme Court’s position on the Form 6 declaration was misleading.
Election Commission response
The Election Commission had said the declaration for the revision was upheld by the Supreme Court. The Court said it had not approved a modified Form 6 and would examine the Commission’s records.
Election Commission impartiality
Opposition claims
Opposition MPs accused Gyanesh Kumar of undermining public trust and questioned the Commission’s neutrality, demanding his resignation.
Election Commission response
The Commission rejected suggestions of divisions within its three-member body and maintained that decisions relating to the revision were unanimous.
Key facts
- Protest route
- From Parliament House complex toward the Election Commission headquarters, Nirvachan Sadan.
- Where march was stopped
- Parliament Street, in front of the NITI Aayog office, between NITI Aayog and Akashvani Bhavan.
- Main demand
- Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation as Chief Election Commissioner.
- Issue cited
- The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the additional declaration attached to Form 6.
- Supreme Court position
- It said it had not approved a modified Form 6 and would examine Election Commission records about any changes and their authorisation.
- Election Commission position
- It rejected suggestions of a split in the three-member Commission and said decisions on the revision were unanimous.
- Security
- Heavy security and barricades were in place around Parliament and the Election Commission headquarters.
Quotes
Mallikarjun Kharge
President of the opposition Congress party
“Across the country, the institution that Gyanesh Kumar headed was an institution the entire country trusted, an institution the entire country took pride in and felt proud of. Questions were never raised over its impartiality. One person has broken that trust.”
deccanchronicle.com
theprint.in
“The CEC should resign. Gyanesh Kumar has broken the trust that the Election Commission had earned as an independent and impartial institution in the country. When we demand Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, the BJP starts raising questions.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
INDIA Bloc MPs Stopped, Stage Dharna Seeking CEC Gyanesh's Resignation
‘Gyanesh, it's done bro’: Rahul, Kharge, other INDIA bloc MPs sit on dharna after Delhi police stop march to EC
Indian opposition marches in protest seeking resignation of election chief
‘Gyanesh, it’s done bro’: INDIA bloc MPs stage sit-in after march to ECI office blocked
‘Gyanesh, it’s done bro, time to resign’: INDIA bloc MPs stage sit-in after march to EC stopped
INDIA bloc MPs raise heat against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, demand his resignation
'Gyanesh, it's done bro': INDIA bloc MPs stage dharna after march to EC stopped
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