Leaders of the INDIA bloc will meet on Wednesday to finalise their strategy over the controversy surrounding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with plans for a nationwide agitation and a fresh parliamentary attempt to seek the CEC’s removal.
The meeting is expected to broadly take forward issues raised at Tuesday’s Congress Working Committee meeting, where the party demanded Kumar’s removal and greater transparency in the Election Commission’s handling of electoral rolls. The Opposition’s allegations have been rejected by the poll body, which has maintained that its final decisions were unanimous.
Nationwide protests planned
Opposition parties are expected to discuss a series of rallies and demonstrations across the country. According to sources cited by NDTV, the campaign could begin with a rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan before expanding to different states.
The alliance is also expected to discuss moving a fresh notice in Parliament seeking the removal of Kumar. The removal of a Chief Election Commissioner requires a constitutionally prescribed process similar to that applicable to a Supreme Court judge, including special majorities in Parliament.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are expected to represent the Congress at the meeting. Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee and Derek O’Brien are expected to participate from the Trinamool Congress.
Regional leaders to attend
Leaders of the Left parties are also expected to participate, along with JMM leader Hemant Soren, RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav, NCP leader Supriya Sule, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is expected to join virtually.
Representatives of the Kerala Congress, VCK, MDMK, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party and Bharat Adivasi Party are also expected to participate.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will not attend, with senior party leader Harendra Malik expected to represent the SP. Congress leaders have said Yadav’s absence is linked to the filing of nominations for the Rajya Sabha election and rejected suggestions that it reflected differences over seat-sharing.
AAP stays away
The Aam Aadmi Party will not participate in the INDIA bloc meeting but has indicated support for the Opposition’s proposed parliamentary move against the CEC.
The DMK, which is no longer part of the Opposition alliance, is also not expected to attend, though it has expressed support for action on the Election Commission issue. Independent Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has been invited to the meeting.
Row over poll panel
The latest Opposition offensive followed a media report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on multiple occasions over matters concerning electoral-roll revisions, Form 6, voter additions and deletions and other administrative decisions.
The Election Commission has disputed suggestions that these amounted to dissent over its final decisions. It has said written observations, operational queries and suggestions are part of the normal deliberative process in a multi-member constitutional body and that its final decisions over the past year were unanimous.
Congress and other Opposition parties have nevertheless sought greater disclosure of changes to electoral rolls and safeguards for voters whose names have been deleted. The Congress has also demanded an independent, time-bound investigation wherever serious anomalies are alleged.
Parliament strategy
The INDIA bloc meeting is expected to decide how the Opposition will combine its parliamentary strategy with protests outside Parliament. A fresh notice seeking Kumar’s removal is among the options expected to be discussed.
The Supreme Court, meanwhile, has agreed to hear next week a petition raising questions about the Election Commission’s decision-making process, adding a judicial dimension to the continuing controversy.