INDIA Bloc Protests at Delhi Chief Electoral Officer’s Office Against SIR

INDIA Bloc Demands: Gyanesh Kumar Should Resign, SIR Should Be Scrapped and Names of Voters Should Be Restored

On October 8, the Delhi unit of the INDIA Bloc held a strong protest at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Kashmere Gate, Delhi, against the deletion of lakhs of voters’ names from the electoral rolls through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Hundreds of people participated in the protest and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Workers and representatives of the various constituent parties of the INDIA Bloc’s Delhi units took part in the demonstration. The protesters demanded that the SIR be scrapped, that the names of all eligible voters who had been removed from the electoral rolls be restored immediately, and that elections be conducted using ballot papers.

On the occasion, the Delhi state leadership of all INDIA Bloc parties jointly submitted a memorandum addressed to the President to the Chief Electoral Officer. The memorandum demanded the immediate cancellation of the SIR process, protection of voters’ rights, and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in view of serious questions raised over the functioning of the Election Commission.

Anurag Saxena, Delhi State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said that a large number of people had been removed from the electoral rolls in the name of SIR. He demanded that, apart from the names of deceased persons that need to be removed, the names of all eligible citizens who have been deleted from the electoral rolls through the SIR process should be restored immediately. No living and eligible citizens should be deprived of their right to vote.

He said that the electoral roll is the foundation of democracy. Putting lakhs of citizens through a complicated process of notices and verification to exercise their right to vote is a matter of serious concern for democratic rights.

Speakers at the protest said that the questions raised about the functioning of the Election Commission and the SIR following a report published in The Indian Express have created serious concerns regarding the transparency and credibility of the Election Commission. In such a situation, the Chief Election Commissioner should resign rather than continue in office.

The INDIA Bloc made it clear that democratic opposition to any attempt to deprive eligible citizens of their right to vote will continue.

Key Demands raised at the protest were:

1. Scrap the SIR immediately and restore the names of all eligible voters.

2. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should resign.

3. Conduct elections using ballot papers and restore public confidence in the electoral process.

“Gyanesh Kumar Is a Murderer of Democracy”: CPI(M) Protests in MP

When it is said that 13 crore (130 million) voters have been removed from the electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), this is by no means a small number. There are 180 countries in the world whose populations are less than 13 crore. If such a large number of people are excluded from the voter list, it poses a threat to democracy.

Jaswinder Singh, Madhya Pradesh State Secretary of CPI(M) made these remarks while addressing a protest meeting in Ataraila on September 28. The protestors later burnt an effigy of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Free and fair elections are a fundamental requirement of democracy, Jaswinder Singh said. Only an impartial Election Commission can conduct a fair electoral process and strengthen democracy. But when the Election Commission itself is not impartial and does not take decisions democratically, how can it protect democracy?

From the SIR process to the deletion of voters’ names and changes made through Form 6, the basic rights of voters are being undermined, and Gyanesh Kumar was carrying this out while keeping the other two Election Commissioners in the dark despite their disagreement, Jaswinder Singh said.

The CPI(M) leader said that a statement by the former Chief Secretary of Kerala is concerning, in which he alleged that Gyanesh Kumar had promised him a Lok Sabha election ticket from the BJP and a ministerial position. According to the CPI(M) leader, this raises serious questions about his impartiality and poses a danger to democracy and the Constitution.

The CPI(M) leader demanded the immediate removal of Gyanesh Kumar, an end to the SIR process, and the restoration of all names that had been deleted from the electoral rolls.

Addressing the gathering, CPI(M) District Secretary Amit Sahgaura said that the party would expand the campaign in the coming days. CPI(M) leader Kanti Kumar Tiwari also addressed the gathering. Student leader Ajay Tiwari conducted the proceedings.

On September 25, effigies were burnt in Gwalior, Indore, Kailaras and Gohad at the party’s call.

On the same day, a joint statement was issued by Jaswinder Singh; Shailendra Kumar Shaili, State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI); and Devendra Singh Chauhan, Chairman of the Central Control Commission of the CPI(ML), calling for a statewide campaign.

On September 29, CPI State Secretary Shailendra Kumar Shaili and CPI(M) leader P. V. Ramachandran submitted a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer, demanding the removal of Gyanesh Kumar.

UP: Left Parties Hold Protests, Demand Removal of Gyanesh Kumar

Protests were held in various districts of Uttar Pradesh following the nationwide call by Left parties to protect the independence, impartiality and credibility of the Election Commission of India. In Agra, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Bhadohi, Gonda, Etawah, Bulandshahr, Lucknow, Bijnor, Pratapgarh, Jaunpur, Moradabad, Kanpur, Sultanpur and several other districts, Left party workers staged demonstrations and submitted memoranda addressed to the President through the respective District Magistrates.

The protesters demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from office, transparency in the revision of electoral rolls, restoration of voting rights to people who had been wrongly excluded from the electoral rolls, and restoration of the credibility of the Election Commission.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, Revolutionary Socialist Party and All India Forward Bloc had jointly called for nationwide protest programmes from September 26 to October 2.

During the protests, the Left parties cited reports published in The Indian Express and raised questions about the functioning of the Election Commission. They said that the issue was not limited to the SIR, but also involved broader questions concerning the institutional functioning, transparency and autonomy of the Election Commission.

At various meetings held during the protests, the Left parties alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had taken unilateral decisions, allegedly overriding the legal opinions recorded by the other two Election Commissioners. According to them, this had affected the collective responsibility and institutional autonomy of the Election Commission.

The Left parties said that reports concerning a lack of transparency in electoral-roll revision processes such as the SIR and Special Summary Revision (SSR), as well as concerns over the decision-making process, were a matter of serious concern. They also alleged that the voter database had been centralised and that access to it had been restricted for officials at the state and constituency levels.

Citing the example of Goa, the Left parties claimed that alleged software-related restrictions made it difficult for Electoral Registration Officers to record their decisions regarding 97 voters whom they had found to be eligible. According to them, such a situation raises questions concerning universal adult suffrage and voters’ rights.

The Left parties said that it was essential to protect the independence of democratic institutions and public confidence in the electoral process. They demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a halt to electoral-roll revision processes lacking transparency, and restoration of voting rights to people who had been unjustly excluded from the electoral rolls.

During the protests in Uttar Pradesh, the Left parties said that restoring the independence and credibility of the Election Commission was an important issue linked to the protection of the democratic system and the Constitution.

The Left parties have also demanded changes to the existing system for appointing Election Commissioners. They called for the restoration of a selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.

As part of the protest programme, events focused on protecting democratic values were also organised on September 28, the birth anniversary of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, and on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

TRIPURA

Left Front Holds Ground despite Repression in Tripura ADC Village Polls

Rahul Sinha

Despite attacks, intimidation, threats and attempts to prevent the Left Front from contesting, the CPI(M)-led Left Front has registered a significant increase in its vote share in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) village committee elections. The results have also exposed the limitations of the ruling BJP and its allies in expanding their support base, even after contesting the polls jointly.

The village committee elections, held on September 28, have shown that the CPI(M)'s electoral strength in the tribal areas has increased substantially within just five months. The party polled 12.90 per cent of the votes, compared to a little over 9 per cent in the April 12 elections to the 28-member ADC. This represents an increase of nearly four percentage points. If the votes secured by CPI(M)-supported independents are taken into account, the Left's actual vote share would be higher.

The Left has achieved this despite being denied the opportunity to contest in 1,643 seats, where its candidates were prevented from filing nominations. Had the party been allowed to contest these seats, its vote share would have been considerably higher.

In contrast, the Tipra Motha’s vote share fell sharply. From 57.62 per cent in the April ADC elections, it declined to 46.76 per cent in the village committee polls — a fall of nearly 11 percentage points. The BJP, despite fighting the election in alliance with Tipra Motha and IPFT, failed to register any significant improvement. Its vote share remained around 28 per cent, virtually unchanged from the ADC election.

The results therefore point to a growing electoral space for the Left despite the concerted efforts of the ruling alliance to suppress its political presence in the tribal areas.

Left Wins Five Village Committees

There has also been a discrepancy in the official announcement regarding the number of village committees won by the CPI(M).

The State Election Commission announced that the CPI(M) had secured a majority in two village committees. However, results declared by the respective Returning Officers establish that the CPI(M) has won a majority in three village committees — Uttam Joypara in Damchhara block, Sholanala in Pecharthal block and South Chelagang in Karbuk block.

Together with village committees where CPI(M)-supported independents have secured a majority, the Left has control over five village committees.

South Chelagang, a seven-member village committee in Karbuk block, produced a significant result. The CPI(M) won four seats, defeating the BJP-Tipra Motha-IPFT alliance, while the BJP won two and an independent one. In Ward No. 4, the first count resulted in a tie. Following a demand for recounting by the CPI(M) candidate, the recount established the victory of the CPI(M) candidate.

At Uttam Joypara, the CPI(M) won four of the seven seats, with the remaining three going to Tipra Motha. In Sholanala, the CPI(M) swept all nine seats. In Bagaichhara, the CPI(M) won two seats while seven CPI(M)-supported independents won the remaining seats. In North Dhanichhara, the Left won five of seven seats, with two going to CPI(M) candidates and three to CPI(M)-supported independents.

The official results show that, out of 4,594 seats for which results were declared, Tipra Motha won 3,428, the BJP 859, CPI(M) 87, Congress 14, IPFT 33 and independents 173. The CPI(M)'s tally, however, rises further to 97 when CPI(M)-supported independents are taken into consideration.

Questions over Election Commission's Role

The final results have also raised fresh questions over the role of the State Election Commission.

The elections were held amid widespread allegations of booth capturing, bogus voting, intimidation and obstruction of opposition candidates. Opposition parties have alleged that the Commission and the police administration failed to act effectively against the ruling alliance despite receiving reports of violence and irregularities on polling day.

Similar allegations surfaced during counting, which began on October 5. Opposition leaders alleged that the ruling alliance attempted to create disturbances at counting centres and that the administration failed to ensure a level playing field.

The discrepancy over the number of village committees won by the CPI(M) has further strengthened questions about the Commission's functioning. While the Commission has shown only two village committees under CPI(M) control, Returning Officers' declared results establish three.

Out of the 587 village committees, the State Election Commission has announced majorities for Tipra Motha in 457, BJP in 94, CPI(M) in two, IPFT in two and Congress in one, while independents have secured majorities in 31.

The discrepancy has prompted questions as to whether the CPI(M) figure is merely a printing error or whether there is an attempt to understate the Left's electoral performance.

BJP Fails to Expand Despite Alliance

The BJP's performance is particularly significant given the three-way ruling alliance with Tipra Motha and IPFT. Of the 4,597 seats in the 587 village committees, polling was held in 2,950 seats on September 28. A total of 1,644 seats were won uncontested, including 1,561 by Tipra Motha, 81 by the BJP and one each by CPI(M) and independents. Three seats remained without a contest as no candidate was nominated.

Excluding uncontested seats, the BJP contested 1,771 seats but won only 778. The figures expose the hollowness of the claim that the ruling alliance has succeeded in eliminating the Left from the tribal areas. Despite the use of intimidation and the systematic denial of nominations, the CPI(M) has increased its vote share substantially.

‘Result Does Not Reflect People's Real Mandate’

Speaking at a press conference at Dasharath Deb Memorial Bhavan on Tuesday evening, CPI(M) Tripura State Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said the results did not reflect the genuine mandate of the people. He said the result could not be described as a spontaneous verdict of the electorate, pointing to the violence, disturbances and irregularities during counting.

“The entire result is not yet before us. But even at this stage, the Left Front has secured nearly three percentage points more than the vote it obtained in the ADC elections four months ago,” Chaudhury said.

He stressed that the Left could have secured a substantially larger number of seats had there been no violence and disturbances at counting centres.

The village committee results therefore present a significant political message in Tripura. The BJP-led ruling alliance, despite deploying its organisational and administrative resources and joining hands with Tipra Motha and IPFT, has failed to increase its vote share. The CPI(M), on the other hand, has registered a clear recovery in its electoral support in the ADC areas despite repression and systematic attempts to keep it out of the electoral contest.

The results underline that the attempt to erase the Left from the tribal political landscape has not succeeded. On the contrary, the increase in the CPI(M)'s vote share within a few months indicates that the Left continues to retain a substantial political base and the capacity to challenge the ruling alliance in Tripura.

Widespread Protests across Tripura Demanding CEC’s Resignation

Sandipan Deb

Widespread protests were organised across Tripura demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Voices are being raised in defence of the democratic framework and the right to vote guaranteed by the Constitution. Large protest demonstrations have been witnessed in Amarpur, Belonia, Sonamura, Khowai, Kamalpur, Kumarghat and Kailashahar.

At 12 noon on October 2, a procession carrying red flags began in Amarpur. Slogans were raised demanding the immediate resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, whom the protesters described as a “vote thief”. The procession passed through various roads of Amarpur town before reaching the premises of D.A.T. School, where it culminated in a public meeting.

Addressing the gathering, CPI(M) Central Committee member Ratan Bhowmik strongly criticised the role of the Chief Election Commissioner. He alleged that Gyanesh Kumar was functioning as an agent of the ruling party and that an undemocratic process was being pursued by deleting voters’ names from the electoral rolls. He further alleged that, despite objections from two of the three Election Commissioners, Gyanesh Kumar was taking decisions unilaterally.

Bhowmik said that Left and democratic forces in different parts of the country had already taken to the streets against what they described as the undemocratic activities of the Chief Election Commissioner. He said that the movement had initially begun with the demand that genuine voters should not be excluded from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, but had subsequently developed into a movement demanding the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He said that the movement would continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigned.

CPI(M) Gomati District Secretary Parimal Debnath, Amarpur Sub-Divisional Secretary Prahlad Paul and others also addressed the meeting.

In Belonia subdivision, a procession and public meeting were organised by the Left Front, with the streets echoing with slogans. Carrying red flags and demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, the protesters marched through the town before the procession culminated in a public meeting. An effigy of Gyanesh Kumar was also burnt during the programme.

The meeting was presided over by CPI(M) State Committee member Basudeb Majumder. CPI(M) South Tripura District Secretary Tapas Dutta, Belonia Sub-Divisional Secretary Bijoy Tilak and others addressed the gathering.

The speakers said that the Election Commission is an independent constitutional institution, but alleged that the RSS and BJP had turned it into a political arm. They alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was acting as a BJP agent and conducting the electoral process in favour of the BJP. They further alleged that Gyanesh Kumar was undermining the democratic system and claimed that, in the name of SIR, the names of 13 crore voters had been removed from electoral rolls in different states, thereby helping the BJP gain power.

The speakers said that Gyanesh Kumar must resign immediately in order to protect the democratic system. They called upon people to unite and intensify the struggle to protect voting rights and democracy until his resignation.

In Melaghar, under Sonamura subdivision, a spirited procession was followed by a public meeting. CPI(M) State Committee member Suresh Das and Sonamura Sub-Divisional Secretary Shyamal Chakraborty addressed the gathering.

The speakers said that the Election Commission cannot be subservient to any political party or individual. However, they alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had acted at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, thereby undermining the constitutional norms and principles of the country. The protesters demanded that Gyanesh Kumar, whom they accused of depriving crores of voters of their democratic rights, be immediately removed from office and brought within the purview of the law.

A similar procession was organised in Khowai town in the evening. Hundreds of people carrying red flags and placards raised slogans as the procession passed through various roads before culminating in a street-corner meeting at Maharajganj Market. CPI(M) District Secretary Padma Debbarma, Sub-Divisional Secretary Nirmal Biswas and others addressed the gathering.

In Kamalpur town, a well-organised and spirited procession of protesters carrying red flags passed through various streets before culminating in a public meeting. CPI(M) Dhalai District Secretary Anjan Das, State Committee member Amalendu Debbarma, Sub-Divisional Secretary Amar Bhattacharjee and other leaders addressed the gathering.

Responding to the call of the CPI(M) Kumarghat Sub-Divisional Committee, a large number of people joined the procession. A public meeting was held at Pabiachhara Bazar following the procession. CPI(M) Unakoti District Secretary Swapan Kumar Baishnab, Kumarghat Sub-Divisional Secretary Samiran Malakar and others addressed the meeting. In Kailashahar, a large number of people joined the protest procession despite the rain, responding to the call of the CPI(M) Sub-Divisional Committee. The procession culminated in a public meeting in front of the Kailashahar Municipal Council. CPI(M) State Committee members Krishnendu Chowdhury and Bishwarup Goswami, Sub-Divisional Secretary Anjan Roy and others addressed the gathering.

SFI March in Agartala

Intensifying the campaign to defend electoral democracy and the right to vote, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) organised a protest march in Agartala on October 3, demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar and an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The march began from the Chhatra - Yuva Bhavan at Melarmath and passed through Kaman Chowmuhani, Jackson Gate, Orient Chowmuhani and Post Office Chowmuhani before returning to Melarmath. SFI state secretary Srijan Deb and state president Pritam Shil led the march. Participants raised slogans against the assault on democratic rights and demanded the removal of the CEC.