The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India joined a new round of protests on Wednesday, 7 October, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an end to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
CPI(M) and CPI continue protests demanding Kumar’s removal
In New Delhi, CPI(M) and CPI MPs participated in the INDIA bloc's renewed mobilisation against the Election Commission. Opposition MPs travelled towards Jantar Mantar for a sit-in after a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders. Police stopped the buses carrying the MPs near the protest site. CPI(M) and CPI MPs were among those participating in the protest, which again demanded Kumar's resignation and raised allegations concerning the revision of electoral rolls.
CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar reiterated that the movement over electoral rights had become a broader national issue. Sandosh Kumar said the campaign had developed into a nationwide slogan and that the opposition would continue to press the Election Commission on the electoral-roll controversy.
The action followed Tuesday's confrontation between opposition MPs and police near the Election Commission headquarters. CPI(M) and CPI joined Congress, RJD, TMC, RSP and other opposition parties in the action.
There were detentions once again. CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar and CPI(M) MPs John Brittas and V. Sivadasan were among the opposition lawmakers detained by police.
The protests were not confined to Delhi. In Jammu, CPI(M) participated in an INDIA bloc “Save Democracy” march demanding Kumar's removal and accountability over alleged large-scale deletions from electoral rolls. A CPI(M) representative claimed that around 13 crore votes had been “stolen” and said the agitation would continue until the issue was addressed.
CPI(M) also took part in a separate Left protest in Guwahati, although this demonstration concerned the devastating floods in Upper Assam rather than the Election Commission. Hundreds of Left activists demanded compensation of Rs 25 lakh for families of those killed in the floods and immediate financial assistance for affected households.