‘Gyanesh Kumar must go’: Opposition turns up heat on CEC after SC Form 6 clarification | India News
NEW DELHI: Opposition leaders stepped up attacks on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday after the Supreme Court clarified that it had not approved modifications to Form 6 being used by the Election Commission of India (ECI) during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.The INDIA bloc is set to hold a protest march from Parliament House to the Election Commission on Tuesday, with opposition parties demanding accountability over the SIR exercise and raising questions about the functioning of the poll panel.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the Supreme Court’s clarification showed that Kumar had changed Form 6 “illegally and unilaterally”.“It is now established beyond doubt that Gyanesh Kumar changed Form 6 illegally and unilaterally. This is just one more proof of him abusing his position to help the BJP,” Gandhi posted on X.He said the CEC and others involved in what he called a “criminal assault on democracy” would be held accountable.Congress leader Pawan Khera said the ECI’s earlier justification for the modified Form 6 had now been contradicted by the Supreme Court.“The ECI had sought to justify the controversial Form 6 declaration by claiming that the Form 6 had been upheld by the Supreme Court. That claim has now been squarely contradicted by the Court itself,” Khera said.Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Dharmendra Yadav alleged that no election had been fair under Kumar’s supervision and questioned the conduct of polls in several states.“Under their supervision, has any election ever been fair? You tell me, weren’t questions raised in Bengal? You tell me, weren’t questions raised in Bihar? Weren’t questions raised in Delhi? Or didn’t the people of Maharashtra raise questions? Didn’t the people of Haryana raise questions?” Yadav said.He claimed that five SP seats were “defeated in counting” during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and said the party’s performance was not a “favour” from Kumar.“If there hadn’t been cheating, 43 Samajwadi Party candidates would have won alone, and our alliance would have won nearly 48 seats,” he alleged.Yadav also said opposition parties would continue their campaign until Kumar resigned.“All those who believe in democracy… such people will make Gyanesh Gupta resign, no matter how many ways of struggle are required, it will be done,” he said.AAP leader Manish Sisodia also targeted Kumar over the Form 6 changes.“The Supreme Court has clearly said Gyanesh Kumar did not get permission to change Form 6,” Sisodia said, alleging that the clarification raised questions over how the changes were made.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai said concerns surrounding the SIR had not been adequately addressed. “Several issues have come to light regarding the SIR, and none of the points raised have been refuted,” Desai said.He alleged that the deletion of voters’ names in Maharashtra had caused anxiety and demanded accountability.“The Chief Election Commissioner should accept responsibility for the errors that have come to light and resign. That is why the protest march is taking place tomorrow,” he said.RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav announced an “Akrosh March” at block levels across Bihar on October 7, followed by district-level demonstrations and a march towards the Lok Bhavan on October 8.MAITC MP Derek O’Brien said: “In 2023, a record 146 MPs were unilaterally suspended from Parliament, so BJP could bulldoze CEC Bill which replaced Chief Justice (with a Union Minister) from Selection Committee of CEC & ECs!”“Tuesday, 146+ MPs march in protest from Parliament to EC. GK must GO,” he posted.
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What the Supreme Court said
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said, “any modification to Form 6 has not been approved by us.”The court was hearing a PIL concerning alleged unilateral decisions related to the SIR. It issued notices to the ECI and Centre but did not pass an interim order restraining Kumar from taking decisions.The opposition’s planned march on Tuesday is expected to intensify the political pressure on the poll panel, while the Supreme Court proceedings will determine how the disputed SIR decisions and Form 6 modifications are examined further.
