Rahul, Opposition Keep Pressure On Govt., CJP Rallies Thousands In Bengaluru

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI — Opposition parties intensified their campaign against the Election Commission on October 8, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi renewing his long-standing allegations of irregularities in India’s electoral process and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Gandhi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and MPs from the Opposition INDIA bloc traveled by bus to Rajghat, the site of their latest demonstration against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The move came a day after opposition leaders protested at Jantar Mantar.

Heavy security was deployed across the capital, and the leaders were kept waiting for nearly an hour before being allowed into Rajghat.

Gandhi has for years alleged irregularities in elections and voter rolls, questioning election results and accusing the Election Commission of failing to adequately address concerns over electoral manipulation. His allegations have gained renewed attention amid scrutiny of the ongoing revision of voter lists.

He said the opposition’s campaign would continue until Kumar resigned. CPI-M MP John Brittas similarly said the agitation would continue until the Chief Election Commissioner stepped down.

The opposition has made the SIR its latest focus, alleging that more than 130 million names have been removed from electoral rolls and that the deletions have disproportionately affected voters likely to support opposition parties. It has also alleged that voters more likely to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party have been preserved or added to the rolls.

The Election Commission has faced sustained criticism from the opposition over the exercise, while the government and poll authorities have rejected allegations of partisan conduct.

The campaign extended beyond Delhi, with thousands of supporters of the youth “Cockroach” movement and student groups demonstrating in Bengaluru on October 8. The movement has called for further protests in New Delhi from October 10, including a march to Jantar Mantar.

Social media reverberations among the young were evident with the announcement that Dhruv Rathee,m who has led political commentaries against the Modi government for years from Europe, made a surprise appearance.  Along with film star and actor Prakash Raj, the CJP conveners appeared on stage to rousing crowds. 

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also arrived in Delhi as opposition parties sought to broaden the campaign and maintain pressure on the government and the Election Commission.

The protests pose a political challenge to Modi midway through his third term, with Gandhi emerging as one of the principal figures driving the opposition’s campaign over electoral integrity, the Associated Press said. (with IANS)