INDIA Bloc MPs Head To Rashtrapati Bhavan, Demand Gyanesh Kumar's Removal; Protest At Vijay Chowk Continues - VIDEO

A group of 10 Opposition politicians, including the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, journeyed to the President's residence on Friday to present a petition to President Droupadi Murmu regarding the operations of the Election Commission of India (ECI). Simultaneously, another faction of Opposition figures persisted with their protest at Vijay Chowk, demanding the dismissal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in light of allegations surrounding electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) procedure.

The delegation comprised prominent figures such as Mamata Banerjee, Omar Abdullah, Supriya Sule, and Manoj Jha. These Opposition members urged the President's involvement, alleging discrepancies in the electoral process and advocating for reforms to the poll body's functioning. Jha expressed that the Opposition's demand was to dismantle what he termed a "structure of dishonesty," accusing Kumar of shielding the system under investigation.

Congress MP Pawan Khera outlined the primary demands, stating that the 10 leaders would deliver the memorandum, while the protest would remain ongoing until their grievances were addressed. These demands encompassed Kumar's resignation, the suspension of the SIR process, the reinstatement of the names of 13.8 crore individuals onto electoral rolls, and the enactment of ballot papers for elections. The Opposition also called for the annulment of the legal protection afforded to the CEC.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee argued that eliminating Kumar would not suffice unless criminal actions were taken against him, including his arrest and imprisonment. He emphasized the urgent need to ensure that no other individual like Gyanesh Kumar emerges in India in the foreseeable future.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also called for Kumar's removal and a return to traditional ballot-paper voting. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee further contended that discharging Kumar alone would not be adequate; criminal proceedings and the repeal of immunity provisions were also necessary. He advocated for broader modifications to the system governing the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, TMC MP Derek O'Brien alleged that the Delhi Police had obstructed Opposition leaders from accessing a location to finalize the remaining signatures on the memorandum. He stated that the document had been finalized after discussions among INDIA bloc parties, but the delegation had to proceed with the submission while the signatures were still being collected.