Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging large-scale electoral wrongdoing and manipulation of the voting process at a press conference held after the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Banerjee alleged that voters' rights had been compromised and accused Kumar of being responsible for what she described as “vote theft” and serious electoral wrongdoing.
Her remarks came after opposition parties met to coordinate their response to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission. The meeting also discussed EVMs, voter rights and demands concerning Kumar.
Mamata demands CEC's immediate resignation
At the post-meeting press conference, Banerjee said opposition parties had previously raised concerns over electoral processes during the 2024 elections in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar and West Bengal.
She said the parties had approached the Election Commission and the Supreme Court after raising questions over what they viewed as irregularities.
“But now, in our view, everything has come out in the open,” Banerjee said, alleging that Kumar was responsible for “vote theft” and serious electoral wrongdoing.
She also questioned the handling of EVMs, the counting process and what she described as manipulation of the electoral system.
Banerjee repeatedly demanded Kumar's resignation, saying it was necessary to protect democracy, the Constitution and citizens' voting rights.
The allegations are part of a wider opposition campaign against the CEC. The Election Commission has maintained that internal differences or queries among commissioners form part of institutional deliberations and that decisions are taken through the established process.
Claims over EVMs and alleged software manipulation
Banerjee also questioned the alleged destruction or handling of EVMs and asked why machines were allegedly destroyed if there had been no wrongdoing.
She raised questions about an alleged software engineer and the origin and use of software that, according to her, could have been used to manipulate the electoral process.
Banerjee alleged that software had been developed and used in a manner that compromised EVMs and endangered the electoral system.
Banerjee claimed that around 92 lakh voters in Bengal had been affected and put the alleged figure across India at more than 13 crore. She presented these figures as part of her argument over the electoral process.
INDIA bloc seeks coordinated campaign
Banerjee said opposition parties were united in their response and appealed to people to participate in programmes announced by the INDIA bloc.
“We are together, we stand together, and we are very much united,” she said during the press conference after the meeting.
She said the parties would continue their campaign to protect what they described as democratic and constitutional rights.
The INDIA bloc meeting was held in New Delhi, with opposition parties discussing the SIR exercise and the functioning of the Election Commission.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called for the use of electoral rolls prepared before the SIR for future elections and advocated a return to ballot-paper voting. He also sought greater transparency in electoral-roll revisions and safeguards against the exclusion of eligible voters.
'We will continue this struggle'
At the press conference, Banerjee said attempts to prevent opposition leaders from holding public programmes would not stop the campaign.
“They may try to prevent us from coming out of our homes. They may try to stop us from taking to the streets. But how long can they keep everyone stopped?” she said.
She pledged to continue what she described as a struggle to restore democracy and protect the Constitution.
Banerjee also appealed for support from non-governmental organisations, students, young people, women, members of the cultural community and journalists.
“We will fight; we will continue this struggle; we will work to restore democracy; and we will protect the Constitution,” she said.
She further said the INDIA bloc's campaign could expand significantly if Kumar was not removed, warning that the movement could go “from the soil to the sky, even to the moon and the stars”.
The September 30 meeting came amid opposition pressure over SIR and reported disagreements within the Election Commission. Opposition parties have demanded Kumar's removal, while the poll panel has defended its institutional decision-making process.