Congress MP Jairam Ramesh confirmed that Members of Parliament (MPs) from various Opposition parties will undertake a peaceful march from Parliament House to the Election Commission on Tuesday, October 11. This initiative is part of the INDIA bloc’s broader campaign addressing the issue of purported electoral malpractice and a call for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Ramesh outlined these plans following a comprehensive meeting that involved Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) presidents and in-charges, which lasted for two hours and included notable party leaders such as Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

Ramesh stated that the gathering for the march will convene at Makar Dwar at 10:30 am, with the march itself scheduled to commence at 11 am. He reiterated the commitment to conduct the event in a peaceful manner. The actions planned by the INDIA alliance are not limited to this march but include a series of events and demonstrations across various levels of local governance leading up to October 8.

He elaborated that during this timeframe, extensive pad-yatras, demonstrations, and meetings will be organised at the district level. The focus of these activities will be to address concerns related to alleged vote theft and identify voters who are reportedly missing from electoral rolls.

Opposition’s Campaign Focus on Voter Registration Issues

Ramesh highlighted the broader agenda of the Opposition, which aims to bring attention to the pressing matter of electoral integrity. From October 10 to October 20, meetings will take place at the block level to discuss the challenges surrounding vote theft and the necessity of rectifying electoral enrolment processes. The Opposition intends to gather crucial information about approximately 13.5 crore voters who may not be present on official voting registers.

Ramesh mentioned that subsequently, from October 25 to November 25, a series of rallies titled ‘Save Votes, Save the Country’ will be conducted at the state, district, and village levels. The campaign aims not only to inform the public about the importance of voting but also to address specific anomalies within the electoral system.

This concentrated effort by the Opposition is designed to mobilise support and engage citizens in the political process, ensuring that voters are aware and prepared for upcoming elections. The significance of accurate voter registration and the integrity of the electoral process are central to the campaign’s objectives.

Supreme Court Addresses Issues Related to Electoral Processes

On the same day, the Supreme Court of India clarified that it had not sanctioned any revised version of Form 6, the application used for registering new voters. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant clearly stated, “Any modified Form 6 has not been approved by us,” emphasising the need for clarity concerning recent modifications in electoral documentation.

Additionally, the Supreme Court declined to issue an interim order seeking the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and directed that notices be sent to relevant parties including the Centre, the Election Commission of India (ECI), Kumar, and other officials. The court is examining a petition which raises issues about decisions made by the Election Commission that allegedly ignored objections from other commissioners.

The petition claims that 14 significant decisions were reportedly taken pertaining to the electoral process without the unanimous support of all Election Commissioners, thereby questioning the legitimacy of those actions. The Supreme Court indicated that it would first consider the responses from the involved parties before proceeding to examine the allegations further. If any breach of legal protocol is identified, the court retains the authority to reverse any such decisions made by the Commission.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share