NEW DELHI — The opposition INDIA bloc is preparing to stage a major protest in New Delhi on Monday, October 12, against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, amid continuing political tensions following Saturday’s police action against protesters and opposition leaders.
According to Hindustan Times, citing sources, the opposition alliance is planning a large-scale demonstration after protests on Saturday demanding Kumar’s resignation and raising concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to extend her stay in the national capital and participate in Monday’s demonstration, cancelling her scheduled return to Kolkata.
Banerjee was detained by Delhi Police on Saturday after staging a sit-in near the South Avenue bus stand, according to media reports.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was also detained after joining the protest over the CEC controversy.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee were among others detained during the police action. Dipke and two other CJP leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were subsequently ordered released by a court on Sunday, while most other detainees from Saturday’s crackdown had also been released, according to Reuters and The Times of India.
The police action came amid heightened security arrangements across the capital, with restrictions affecting access to 45 Metro stations on Saturday. Mobile internet services were also temporarily suspended in parts of central Delhi. Reuters reported on Sunday that Metro stations had reopened and internet services had been restored.
The controversy centres on the SIR exercise, which opposition parties allege has resulted in irregularities and the deletion of eligible voters from electoral rolls. The INDIA bloc has demanded Kumar’s resignation and called for greater accountability in the functioning of the poll panel.
The Election Commission has rejected allegations of electoral manipulation and maintained that the revision exercise is being conducted in accordance with established procedures.
Monday’s proposed demonstration is expected to bring together leaders and representatives of several opposition parties as the political confrontation over electoral-roll revision continues.
The latest mobilisation follows a series of protests, detentions and legal proceedings concerning the Election Commission, with the opposition seeking to sustain pressure on the Centre and the poll panel over its handling of the electoral process.
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