Opposition protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar intensify across states
Opposition protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar intensified on Wednesday, with INDIA bloc parties holding demonstrations in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh a day after Opposition MPs were detained during a march to the Election Commission's office in Delhi.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that Opposition MPs were stopped "at gunpoint" and treated "as if they were terrorists" when they attempted to meet the CEC on Tuesday.
Talking to reporters, Raut claimed Delhi Police and the CRPF were deployed to prevent 275 unarmed Opposition MPs from reaching the Election Commission's office and alleged that women MPs were mistreated.
The Rajya Sabha member said the agitation seeking Kumar's removal would continue and questioned whether the CEC met only Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah if he did not meet Opposition MPs.
Raut also targeted former CEC Rajiv Kumar, accusing him of handing the Shiv Sena's name and "Bow and Arrow" symbol to the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He levelled a similar allegation over the NCP's name and symbol after its split.
The Shiv Sena split in June 2022, following which the Election Commission allotted the party name and symbol to the Shinde faction in February 2023. After the NCP split in 2023, the poll panel recognised the Ajit Pawar-led faction as the real NCP and allotted it the party's name and 'clock' symbol in 2024.
In Uttar Pradesh, police registered an FIR against eight named party workers and more than 200 unidentified people over a "vote bachao, desh bachao" march held in Mau on October 5 by the Samajwadi Party, Congress and CPI(M).
Police alleged that protesters attempted to burn an effigy linked to the Election Commission, raised provocative and abusive slogans and obstructed police personnel. The FIR also mentioned injuries to some police personnel. No arrests had been reported.
The case was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those relating to unlawful assembly, obstruction of public servants and negligent conduct involving fire or combustible matter.
In Bihar, INDIA bloc constituents held protests across the state and demanded Kumar's resignation. In Patna, RJD, Congress and Left leaders burned effigies of Modi, Amit Shah and the CEC.
RJD leader Ejaz Ahmad alleged that the CEC acted in connivance with the prime minister and home minister during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. RJD leaders also accused the Election Commission of acting in favour of the BJP, allegations rejected by the ruling party and the poll panel.
The RJD said protests and effigy-burning programmes were held across all 534 blocks of Bihar on the call of Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav. Yadav is scheduled to lead a march to Raj Bhavan in Patna on Thursday.