Trade unions and farmer groups press for removal of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
Left parties, labour and agricultural collectives have rallied against the chief election commissioner, citing a CPI(M) survey that says deleted voter names persist in Bihar villages.
Trade unions, farmer organisations and left‑leaning parties have taken to the streets demanding the dismissal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, The Hindu reported. Demonstrators in several states, including Bihar and West Bengal, carried placards calling for his resignation, arguing that the election apparatus under his watch has failed to safeguard the integrity of the electoral roll.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) released a survey alleging that names of voters who had been officially deleted from the electoral list were still being used in villages across Bihar. The party claims the data shows a systematic lapse that could affect the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, and it has used the findings to intensify its call for Kumar’s removal.
The CEC heads the Election Commission of India, an autonomous body tasked with conducting free and fair elections at the national and state levels. Gyanesh Kumar, appointed in 2022 for a six‑year term, has already faced criticism over the handling of voter‑list revisions and the rollout of electronic voting machines in several constituencies. Such controversies are magnified ahead of the 2024 general election, where the accuracy of voter rolls is a pivotal issue.
Labour unions and farmer collectives often align with left parties on issues of governance and accountability, and their joint protest reflects broader anxieties about electoral fairness. Historically, these groups have mobilised around perceived administrative lapses, viewing the election commission’s credibility as essential to protecting workers’ and farmers’ political representation.
Government officials have so far refrained from commenting on the specific allegations, but a senior election‑commission spokesperson emphasized that the commission continuously updates the electoral roll and that any discrepancies are addressed through established legal channels. No formal motion to remove the CEC has been filed in Parliament at this stage.
If the pressure mounts, the commission could be compelled to initiate an internal review, which might delay certain preparatory steps for the general election. Observers note that any perception of bias or negligence in voter‑list management could erode public confidence, potentially influencing voter turnout and the overall legitimacy of the electoral outcome.
This report is based on original reporting by The Hindu. Read the original source →