CHENNAI: The Congress will stage a protest near the Chennai collectorate on Friday, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, TNCC president Manickam Tagore said on Thursday.
Talking to reporters at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, Tagore alleged that Gyanesh Kumar had worked closely with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the CEC was functioning as the “face of the BJP” in the Election Commission. He said the SIR exercise led to deletion of crores of voters from poll rolls and inclusion of names through irregular means.
Tagore also criticised the DMK, saying that while former CM MK Stalin had spoken against the Election Commission and demanded action against Gyanesh Kumar, he had not spoken against Shah.
“Except the Congress and the Left parties, no one in Tamil Nadu is questioning (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi and Shah,” he alleged. Alleging that the CEC appears to be acting in favour of the BJP, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan said he should voluntarily step down from the post. He was speaking to reporters after attending a wedding function at Arcot in Ranipet.
Thirumavalavan said reports have emerged that the other two election commissioners had recorded their objections to the SIR exercise, but the process was carried out despite their opposition. In a statement, VCK MP D Ravikumar said the prime minister and home minister should also be held accountable for Gyanesh Kumar’s “illegal activities”.
He urged the Chief Justice of India to recall the Supreme Court verdict in the Bihar SIR case in light of “new evidence”.
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi president MH Jawahirullah said concentrating decision-making powers in the hands of one individual poses serious threat to democratic institutions.
Impeachment motion: DMK to wait and watch
Chennai: Reacting to Congress’s plan to bring an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a two-time DMK MP said the party’s leadership will take a call once the details of the motion are available. Congress has not reached out to the DMK seeking support, he added. He said DMK chief MK Stalin was the first in TN to call out the EC on this.