1 hr ago
Congress Alleges Bengal Poll Rigging Ahead of Opposition March
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused election officials of unfairly handling elections in West Bengal.
These are his allegations.
Opposition members of Parliament planned to march to the Election Commission on Tuesday.
They wanted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
The dispute is also about a review of voter lists that has removed many names.
A newspaper reported that judges handling appeals in Bengal had problems with the online system.
They said it made some parts of their work difficult.
Delhi police said roads near the march could be blocked or diverted.
Drivers were advised to avoid those areas if possible.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of overseeing alleged manipulation in West Bengal.
Opposition MPs planned a peaceful march to the Election Commission on Tuesday to demand Kumar’s resignation.
The protests come amid criticism of the Special Intensive Revision, which the article says has removed around 13 crore names from voter lists across India.
A report cited concerns from more than a dozen tribunals about a digital portal handling appeals over deleted voter registrations in Bengal.
Delhi traffic police announced restrictions and diversions from 8 a.m. in parts of central Delhi and advised commuters to avoid affected roads.
- Who
- Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and Opposition MPs; the march was aimed at the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- What
- Opposition MPs planned a march demanding Kumar’s resignation, amid allegations about West Bengal elections and criticism of voter-list revisions.
- Where
- The march was to go to the Election Commission in Delhi; the traffic advisory covered central Delhi roads.
- When
- Tuesday; the traffic restrictions were scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.
- Why
- The Opposition objected to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and alleged manipulation in West Bengal; Ramesh also cited concerns about the tribunal appeals portal.
Opposition allegations
Election Commission response
West Bengal election process
Opposition allegations
Jairam Ramesh alleged that the West Bengal elections involved mass manipulation and rigging overseen by the Chief Election Commissioner.
Election Commission response
The article does not provide a response from the Election Commission to these allegations.
Appeals portal
Opposition allegations
A report cited tribunal judges’ concerns that the digital portal lacked functions needed to process appeals effectively.
Election Commission response
The article does not include the Election Commission’s response to the reported portal problems.
Key facts
- Planned action
- A peaceful march by INDIA bloc MPs and other invited Opposition MPs to the Election Commission.
- Demand
- Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Voter-list revision
- The article says the Special Intensive Revision has deleted around 13 crore names from voter lists across India.
- Bengal appeals
- The tribunals were handling appeals that included cases involving around 27 lakh deleted electors.
- Portal concerns
- Tribunal judges reportedly cited limits on serving notices, uploading documents, holding virtual hearings, restoring voter names, and downloading orders.
- Traffic advisory
- Restrictions and diversions were scheduled from 8 a.m. on several central Delhi routes.
- Tribunal meeting
- More than a dozen tribunal judges discussed portal concerns on August 11, according to the cited report.
Quotes
Jairam Ramesh
Congress leader and Member of Parliament
“Looks like the Parliament complex is already under an unprecedented security siege showing the extreme nervousness of the puppeteer pair.”
telegraphindia.com
“The puppet has of course to go but the two puppeteers too have to be held accountable.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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