Guwahati, Sept 24 (PTI) The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) on Thursday demanded the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that he had failed to maintain the neutrality expected of the head of a constitutional institution, and urged the President to intervene.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, AJP general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan sought Kumar’s removal and an impartial inquiry into his tenure and decisions.
Bhuyan alleged that Kumar had acted “more like a BJP spokesperson” than the head of an independent constitutional body.
He also alleged that the views of the other two Election Commissioners were not given adequate importance while taking several key decisions, raising questions over the Commission’s collective decision-making process.
“The issue is important for the credibility of the democratic process, and we request the President to intervene and ensure an inquiry into the allegations against the CEC,” he added.
Referring to the report published in The Indian Express, Bhuyan said it further intensified existing concerns over the EC’s functioning.
He said the issue should not remain confined to political allegations and counter-allegations but must be subjected to an impartial investigation.
“Public confidence in the EC is one of the fundamental pillars of democracy. Whenever questions are raised about the Commission’s decisions and functioning, it must be answered transparently and based on facts,” Bhuyan said.
The AJP demands that Kumar be removed from the CEC’s post immediately and his tenure and decisions be investigated.
The AJP also questioned the credibility of the results of previous elections, particularly the Assam Assembly polls, alleging that they did not represent the “spontaneous verdict of the people”.
“The previous election results were not the spontaneous verdict of the people; they were the verdict of EVMs and the Election Commission,” Bhuyan alleged.
He further alleged that the outcome was the result of a conspiracy and favoured the BJP.
Bhuyan also criticised the BJP for allegedly defending the CEC and questioned whether BJP spokespersons were effectively speaking on behalf of the Election Commission.
Bhuyan asserted that a transparent examination of the allegations was necessary to preserve public confidence in the electoral system and ensure the Election Commission’s neutrality and independence remained beyond doubt. PTI DG DG MNB
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