If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign in two days, there will be a nationwide movement: CJP

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday, saying that if Mr. Kumar did not resign from the post within 48 hours, the party would launch a nationwide movement and would not back down without his resignation.

CJP founder president Abhjit Deepke leveled serious allegations against the Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner, claiming that after Mr. Kumar became the Election Commissioner, the names of 2 crore voters were removed in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, while 9.7 lakh people were disenfranchised in West Bengal. He said that 13 crore votes have been removed so far in the entire country. He said that the difference between the winning National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the losing India Alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was only three percent. The removal of such a large number of voters' names raises serious questions about the election results.

Mr. Dipke alleged that the role of the Election Commission has also been questioned in matters related to election symbols. "Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena were stripped of their electoral symbols and given to 'shell' parties of the BJP. The same happened with the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal," he said. He said that Gyanesh Kumar has no right to continue as Election Commissioner and he should resign.

CJP founder member and joint convener Ashutosh Ranka said at a press conference here that every citizen has got the right to vote since the formation of the republic. He said that even when most of the voters in the country were poor, Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had given the right to vote to every citizen, but now 13 crore voters have been removed from the voter list through the Special Detailed Revision (SIR) process.

He alleged that current developments indicate that voter suppression may continue. He also mentioned cases of allegedly linking voter ID to welfare schemes in Goa, West Bengal and Bihar.

Mr. Ranka said, "Schemes like ration in Goa have also been linked to voting rights. In West Bengal, the BJP government has said that the benefits of public welfare schemes will go only to those who are voters. The same is happening in Bihar. The 13 crore people who have been removed from the voter list will be gradually excluded from welfare schemes. By this, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to say that if you don't vote for it, not only You will not only be deprived of voting rights, but welfare schemes will also be kept away from you."

Meanwhile, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das alleged that voter rights were being downplayed in the country and youth were facing hurdles to join the voter list.

He claimed that under the SIR, new voters in Form-6 are being asked a question about their parents' involvement in the previous SIR. He alleged that even though it is being said to be optional, the software is treating it as mandatory, due to which many young voters are not able to get registered.

Mr. Das claimed that an Election Commissioner had described the system as unauthorized and harassing new voters. He alleged that hurdles were being created in the process of enrolling young voters, especially Gen-Z voters. He claimed that 6 million people in West Bengal were removed on the basis of "logical inconsistencies" and 3.3 million people were later added to the list. Citing a report, he said that the Election Commission had also filed an appeal against it in the court, although two Election Commissioners had also filed objections against it.

Mr. Das demanded that Gyanesh Kumar be removed from office and criminal proceedings initiated against him. They also demanded that it be clarified who was giving them instructions. They demanded the postponement of all upcoming elections and an immediate halt to the SIR. He also demanded the Supreme Court to seize the files related to SIR and take them under its supervision, so that there is no fear of tampering with the records.

Mr. Das demanded repeal of the Election Commission Act 2023 and a new law that would establish people's confidence in the Election Commission and the electoral process. He said that the right to vote is not the right of any political party but the constitutional right of every citizen and youth and social organizations should come forward on this issue.

Mr Dipke said the country was going through "very sensitive times" and serious questions were being raised about people's right to vote. He appealed to the youth to come forward for their democratic rights. "If you know that the election is being rigged, you have to be tough. If you don't, nobody will stand up for you," he said. He said that it is not a question of any political party but the right of the people of the country.