Opposition Parties, Civil Society Groups Demand CEC's Removal and SIR Suspension
An all-party roundtable in Andhra Pradesh demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, suspension of the SIR, and restoration of deleted voter names.
Leaders from the Left parties, the Congress, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and a range of political and civil society organisations came together on Sunday to demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and the restoration of voters whose names have allegedly been struck off.
The demands were raised at an all-party roundtable convened by the Left parties. CPI(M) State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao claimed that 13 crore names had been removed from the electoral rolls under the Chief Election Commissioner's watch and asked the Election Commission of India for an explanation. He also pressed for the Chief Justice of India to be included in the panel that appoints Election Commissioners.
Former Union Minister J.D. Seelam called for Mr. Kumar's immediate removal, while former Minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao sought an inquiry into the allegations levelled against him. CPI national executive member Akkineni Vanaja urged steps to guarantee free and fair elections.
YSRCP leader and former MLA Malladi Vishnu alleged that the SIR had left 32 lakh voters in Andhra Pradesh without voting rights, and said his party would take part in the protests.
Former IAS officer B. Srinivasa Rao demanded a forensic audit of the ERO and ECI-NET systems, protection of related records, and intervention by the Supreme Court. Other speakers called for restructuring the Election Commission and for nationwide mobilisation against what they described as interference in independent institutions.
Participants announced protests on September 28 and October 2 and appealed to the public to join them.
Among those who spoke were CPI(M) State secretariat member Y. Venkateswara Rao; Sunkara Rajendra Prasad, convener of the Vote Protection Forum; G.S.R.K.R. Vijayakumar, president of the Liberation Congress; V. Lakshmana Reddy of the Jana Chaitanya Vedika; VCK State president Vidyasagar; CPI(ML) Liberation leader Harinath; P. Polari and M. Ramakrishna of CPI(ML) New Democracy; social activist Kurra Vasundhara; MCPI leader Khader Basha; and SUCI(C) leader Sudheer.