Left parties protest in Hassan against Chief Election Commissioner
CPI(M) and CPI activists in Hassan have demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and suspension of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. They alleged unilateral changes to voter-registration procedures and said the process had weakened confidence in the Election Commission.
Activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India staged a protest in Hassan on Saturday, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The protesters gathered at Hemavathi Statue Circle and raised slogans against the Chief Election Commissioner. Their demonstration followed reports alleging unilateral decision-making in relation to the revision process.
The Left parties alleged that Mr. Kumar altered Form-6, which is used to enrol new voters, despite objections from two of the three Election Commissioners. They said the two commissioners had reportedly objected on at least 14 occasions to decisions concerning voter registration and the deletion and restoration of names.
Party leaders said the Chief Election Commissioner should be held responsible for what they described as mismanagement of the institution and a loss of public confidence. They called for his removal and for the Special Intensive Revision to be suspended. The protesters also demanded restoration of what they termed the Election Commission of India’s independent and democratic functioning.
The supplied material records the allegations and demands but does not include a response from the Chief Election Commissioner or the Commission. The demonstration was attended by CPI(M) leaders Dharmesh and H.R. Naveen Kumar and CPI leaders Dharmaraj and M.C.
Dongre. Progressive group leaders Vijay Kumar Dandora, Mubashir Ahmed and Harish Katte were also among those present. The dispute centres on the administration of electoral rolls and the authority used to make changes during the revision exercise.
The parties’ stated concern is that unilateral decisions could affect voter enrolment and the handling of names already included in the rolls. Their demands in Hassan combine an institutional request for the Chief Election Commissioner’s removal with a procedural demand to stop the revision. No information on any official decision regarding either demand was provided in the source material.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.