Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 25 The KPCC on Friday staged a protest march to Lok Bhavan here, seeking the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and accusing the BJP of interfering with the Election Commission’s functioning.
The march was organised as part of the nationwide agitation called by the AICC and was inaugurated by Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.
Chennithala alleged that the BJP was turning the country’s democratic system into a farce by misusing the Election Commission and claimed that Kumar was functioning as the BJP’s “B team”.
He alleged that the BJP’s victories in the Maharashtra, Haryana and Bihar Assembly elections and the Lok Sabha election were achieved through manipulation.
“Although all three members of the Election Commission have equal powers, the Chief Election Commissioner is working only for the BJP by overriding the dissent of the other members,” Chennithala alleged.
He alleged that the confidence expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the BJP would remain in power in the country until 2045 was based on such a belief.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph alleged that Kumar was taking steps that undermined the electoral process, which he said should be conducted in a free and impartial manner.
He said the Congress would continue its struggle to ensure a fair electoral system and restore democracy in the country.
AICC general secretary Deepa Dasmunsi alleged that the BJP was attacking democracy and the Constitution through “vote theft”.
The march began from Museum Junction, with more than 1,000 Congress workers, including KPCC and DCC office-bearers and elected representatives of local self-government institutions, participating in it.
KPCC general secretary in charge of organisational affairs Neyyattinkara Sanal, Excise and Cooperation Minister M Liju, DCC president N Sakthan, MP Jebi Mather and V S Sivakumar also took part in the protest march.
(PTI News)
