New Delhi, October 6 (Daily Kiran) : In a significant display of dissent, members of the opposition alliance marched from Parliament to the Election Commission office in New Delhi on October 6. The protest targeted the Special Intensive Review (SIR) process and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Notable participants included lawmakers from Congress, the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, and various leftist parties.
During the demonstration, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized the ongoing struggle to protect democracy. He accused forces undermining democratic values, asserting that the opposition remains steadfast in its defense of citizens’ rights.
Congress MP Pawan Khera indicated that the protest was merely the beginning of a larger movement. He dismissed remarks from BJP MP Sambit Patra, stating that the opposition no longer pays attention to their claims.
Khera further remarked, “Let them try to stop us. How long can they hold back this nation? The entire country is on the streets through the opposition. They cannot halt this movement. The British tried, and they left. Those attempting to do so now will also fail.”
Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party, raised concerns about the Election Commission’s operations, referencing past allegations of electoral irregularities in elections from 2017 to 2024. He highlighted controversies surrounding the Chandigarh mayoral election, stressing that these issues cannot be overlooked.
Congress MP Ranjit Ranjan outlined three key demands from the opposition: the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the cancellation of the SIR process, and a return to paper ballots in elections.
Karti Chidambaram, another Congress member, questioned the legality of the SIR process, arguing that it appears unconstitutional and beyond the commission’s jurisdiction. He noted that major decisions within the Election Commission should require consensus among all three commissioners, yet it seems the CEC is making unilateral decisions. He accused the SIR process of aiming to disenfranchise voters rather than engage them.
Congress MP Amar Singh stated, “They have made their actions public. The Supreme Court itself has clarified that it did not approve changes to Form 6. By lying, they have removed the names of 13 crore individuals, paving the way for BJP victories in many areas. Thus, we demand their resignation.”
Vivek Tankha, another Congress leader, declared, “If they allow us, we will reach our destination. If they do not, we will go wherever they lead us. This is a second fight for freedom. We will not accept anything until we liberate this country from the enemies of democracy. The public is out on the streets; MPs are just a part of it. Students, political parties, and common citizens have all joined.”
Congress leader Supriya Srinet launched a sharp attack on the CEC, claiming that Gyanesh Kumar made arbitrary changes to Form 6, which should only be modified through legislation. She pointed out that the Election Commission had claimed these changes were made based on a Supreme Court order, but the court clarified it had not approved such modifications.
D. Raja, General Secretary of the CPI, expressed concerns over the democratic system, questioning the meaning of democracy if elections are fraudulent. He insisted that the Election Commission, as a constitutional body, must operate in accordance with constitutional provisions.
MP Sougat Roy rejected the significance of BJP allegations, asserting that as the ruling party, they would defend Gyanesh Kumar. The opposition contends that the commission’s operations favor the ruling party.
Congress leader Ragini Nayak emphasized that it is time to defend democracy and the Constitution. She accused the government of attacking democratic processes and the right to vote, vowing that the opposition will continue this fight.
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