Thane, Sep 28 (PTI) The Nationalist Congress Party (SP) staged a protest in Thane city on Monday against what it called “autocratic functioning” of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and sought CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
NCP (SP) general secretary and MLA Jitendra Awhad, who led the Opposition party’s protest, raised questions over the electoral rolls revision exercise.
Under the leadership of Awhad and NCP (SP) Thane district president Manoj Pradhan, party workers marched from their regional office to the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) headquarters, symbolically parading a man impersonating Kumar on a donkey.
The ECI and the CEC have been in the line of fire of Opposition parties after an Indian Express report claimed Election Commissioners (ECs) SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections on several occasions over decisions and orders regarding the SIR. These parties have accused Kumar of taking unilateral decisions in favour of the ruling establishment.
Demonstrators chanted slogans, accusing the ECI of autocratic functioning, demanding the immediate dismissal of the Chief Election Commissioner, and calling for the withdrawal of disputed registration changes.
Speaking to the media during the demonstration, Awhad cited constitutional protocol regarding the decision-making process of the three-member commission.
“The Constitution grants equal authority to all three — Election Commissioners and CEC — stipulating that decisions should follow a 2:1 majority when opinions differ. Despite 14 objections raised by ECs Sandhu and Joshi regarding potential electoral roll discrepancies, server vulnerabilities, and unauthorized alterations to Form 6, their dissent was overridden,” he said.
Modifying registration forms without parliamentary oversight tramples upon constitutional norms, the former Maharashtra minister argued.
“We demand that the 14 objections be formally upheld, necessary corrections be implemented immediately, and Gyanesh Kumar be removed from his post,” Awhad insisted.
His party colleague Pradhan emphasized the need for institutional autonomy.
“The ECI must function completely free from political influence. Changing Form 6 without public disclosure undermines the voting rights of young citizens who are already battling unemployment and inflation. We demand complete transparency in the voter registration process, as well as the immediate removal and investigation of the CEC,” he maintained. PTI COR RSY
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