New Delhi: Leaders of the INDIA bloc on Friday approached President Droupadi Murmu, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.
A 10-member delegation, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee and Omar Abdullah, submitted a memorandum seeking the President’s intervention. Meanwhile, several Opposition MPs staged a sit-in protest at Vijay Chowk after police stopped their march from Parliament.
The Opposition demanded Kumar’s resignation, suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and restoration of the names of 13.8 crore people. It also called for a return to paper ballots and the withdrawal of the CEC’s lifelong immunity provision.
Congress leaders said the peaceful agitation would continue until their demands were addressed. CPI general secretary D Raja said the memorandum outlined proposals for comprehensive electoral reforms.
The protest follows a report alleging that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months, mainly regarding the SIR process. The Election Commission has maintained that differing views are normal during institutional deliberations and that its decisions follow established legal procedures.
The INDIA bloc has also announced plans for rallies and “Save Democracy” marches to intensify its campaign over electoral roll concerns.