INDIA Bloc MPs Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Demand His Resignation

Several MPs from the INDIA bloc on Tuesday marched towards the Election Commission of India (ECI), protesting what they described as irregularities in decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Leaders and MPs from several Opposition parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, took part in the demonstration.

Samajwadi Party MP Virendra Singh said he participated in the protest following instructions from party president Akhilesh Yadav. He said the party's MPs had been asked to assemble at Makar Dwar as part of the demonstration.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee launched a strong verbal attack on the Chief Election Commissioner during the protest and called for Gyanesh Kumar to step down.

Congress MP Imran Masood also demanded the CEC's resignation, alleging that the functioning of the Election Commission had affected public confidence in the institution.

Masood said the Opposition's demand was aimed at protecting the credibility and perceived independence of the poll panel. He also alleged that questions raised by the Congress and its allies over Gyanesh Kumar had led to political criticism from the BJP.

The Congress MP also commented on the decision of some Opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD), to stay away from Tuesday's demonstration.

Masood said that those continuing to stand with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would remain part of the political campaign against the Election Commission, while those choosing not to participate would remain outside the ongoing confrontation.

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said the INDIA bloc's protest was primarily focused on the Special Intensive Revision exercise and the demand for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

The demonstration has brought the Opposition's objections to the electoral revision process and its concerns regarding the functioning of the Election Commission back into the political spotlight.

At the same time, the absence of some Opposition parties from the protest has highlighted differences among INDIA bloc constituents over the extent of coordination on the issue.