Wangchuk supports October protest over India election accountability

Activist Sonam Wangchuk has backed a planned October 2 protest by the Cockroach Janta Party against India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, while indicating that he may not attend the demonstration physically. Wangchuk said efforts to strengthen accountability in the country and the electoral process deserved support. He added that movements should operate independently and that he did not need to be present at every action.

His comments came after a report by The Indian Express said Election Commissioners S. S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections at least 14 times over the previous 10 months to decisions involving voter registration, deletions, restoration of names and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

The Election Commission said on Saturday that all decisions concerning the revision had received the unanimous approval of its three commissioners. The commission also announced measures for voters who receive notices during the revision. These include home visits by Booth Level Officers for cases involving unmapped electors and logical discrepancies.

The commission said such voters would generally not need to attend hearings in person. Wangchuk described the electoral process as central to democracy and said it needed improvement. He also referred to a promise to Ladakh concerning the Sixth Schedule, saying commitments made by governments should be fulfilled.

The CJP has said its protest will begin in Mumbai on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, whose methods of peaceful protest Wangchuk cited. Opposition parties are also seeking action against the Chief Election Commissioner, while INDIA bloc parties are expected to discuss a coordinated response in Delhi on September 30.