INDIA bloc leaders meet to plan action over election revision exercise
Opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc met in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision exercise and a proposed joint agitation against the Election Commission. The parties are also considering motions in both Houses seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal.
Top leaders of the INDIA bloc met in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and coordinate a nationwide protest against the Election Commission (EC). The meeting’s proposed agenda included finalising a joint action plan and considering a motion in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. A draft notice for such a motion has been prepared, according to the source material.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, and Congress general secretaries Jairam Ramesh and K. C. Venugopal attended.
Trinamool Congress leaders Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee were also present, along with representatives of the Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPI(M), NCP(SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT). Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was absent because of Rajya Sabha election nominations in Uttar Pradesh, but party representatives attended. Mr.
Venugopal said he and Mr. Kharge had spoken with Mr. Yadav and confirmed that his party leaders were participating.
The DMK and Aam Aadmi Party did not attend. Mr. Venugopal said the question of bringing such parties on board would be discussed.
DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan said the party was not part of the INDIA bloc but would support any removal motion against Mr. Kumar in Parliament and would back opposition parties on several issues concerning the BJP.
The opposition has linked its campaign to reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times over 10 months to SIR decisions and orders that they said were issued without their knowledge or recommendation. The previous INDIA bloc meeting was held on June 8.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.