Echo of row in ECI: Protest in Mandya seeking Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, SC urged to take suo moto cognisance
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Leaders of various organisations and activists participating in the protest at Jayachamarajendra Circle in Mandya on Thursday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Even as a protest was held in Mandya demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in the wake of the row in Election Commission of India (ECI), Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson M. Lakshmana has urged the Supreme Court to immediately take suo moto cognisance of the matter and order the CEC’s removal from his post.
Leaders of various organisations and activists participated in the protest organised by Dalit organisations and the Samana Manaskara Vedike (Forum of Like-minded Organisations) at Jayachamarajendra Circle in Mandya on Thursday demanding protection of voters’ rights and transparency in the electoral process in the backdrop of the objections raised over the functioning of the ECI and the revision of electoral rolls.
The protesters displayed placards carrying various slogans against Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, whom they accused of electoral irregularities, and against the Election Commission.
In Mysuru, Mr. Lakshmana addressed a press conference and demanded the arrest of Mr. Kumar for allegedly taking several serious decisions aimed at facilitating the BJP’s victory in the elections.
Referring to the media expose on the dissent notes submitted by two of the three Elections Commissioners - Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, Mr. Lakshmana accused the CEC of “stealing” votes for the benefit of BJP in the elections.
“Mr. Kumar is behaving like Hitler. Mr. Sandhu and Mr. Joshi have disagreed on 14 occasions with decisions taken unilaterally by the Chief Election Commissioner and have submitted their objections in writing. These objections have not been taken into consideration,” he said.
Over the last ten months, elections in six States have been won by the BJP allegedly by removal of names of around three crore voters through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, particularly of those, who did not vote for the BJP, the KPCC spokesperson claimed.
He also alleged that BJP and Mr. Kumar intended to remove 1.56 crore voters in Karnataka through the SIR and called upon the people to immediately launch a large-scale movement across the country demanding the arrest of those responsible for the alleged wrongdoing.
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