Leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of facilitating “vote theft” during a symbolic impeachment event organised by the opposition INDIA bloc. The event took place on Saturday at Kharge’s residence on Rajaji Marg, chaired by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.

Kharge’s allegations centre around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which he claims was initiated to remove voters who oppose the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). During the proceedings, Kharge outlined six specific charges against Kumar.

These included claims that Kumar conspired to manipulate elections, deleted 13.3 crore voters, rewrote Form 6 without parliamentary oversight, seized electoral rolls through ECINET, breached his constitutional mandate by sidelining other election commissioners, and acted under the influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Opposition’s Demands for CEC’s Removal

In addition to the allegations, Kharge reiterated three key demands from the opposition: the removal of the CEC, an end to the SIR exercise, and amendments to the 2023 law regulating the appointment of the chief election commissioner. He accused the Modi government of employing various tactics to maintain power since 2014, alleging that these tactics include vote manipulation and the misuse of investigative agencies.

Kharge stated, “The Modi government has been plotting every kind of scheme since 2014 to seize power.” He elaborated on his claims of “vote theft,” suggesting that the 2023 law governing the CEC’s appointment has provided immunity to the election commissioner, thereby enabling such actions. He pointed out that a bill passed in December 2023, which suspended 145 opposition MPs, has contributed to this immunity.

Furthermore, Kharge raised questions regarding the election results in Maharashtra and Haryana, alleging that the INDIA bloc’s strong performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was reversed in the subsequent assembly polls. He suggested that illegal alterations to the voter rolls occurred before the elections, leading to discrepancies in the results.

Rahul Gandhi Calls for March Ahead of Rally

In a related development, Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha leader of the opposition, has urged the public to participate in a march in the national capital on Sunday. This march is intended to precede the INDIA bloc’s rally scheduled for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan. Gandhi announced the details of the march via a post on X, specifying that it would commence at noon from the Minto Road junction near Connaught Place, proceeding towards Ajmeri Gate and concluding at Ramlila Maidan.

However, sources from the Delhi Police have indicated that no permission has been sought for the march starting from Connaught Place. This raises questions about the feasibility of the planned event and the potential for disruption. The opposition’s activities and their implications for the upcoming elections continue to be a focal point of political discourse in the country.

As the opposition prepares for the rally, the allegations against the CEC and the demands for reform are expected to remain at the forefront of discussions among political leaders and the public alike. The INDIA bloc’s actions reflect a significant moment in the ongoing political landscape, particularly as the nation approaches the 2024 elections.

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