New Delhi: Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc are meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday, September 30, to finalise a joint agitation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and to press for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
What's on the Agenda
The meeting at the Constitution Club is expected to consider a draft notice for a motion in Parliament seeking Kumar's removal, along with issues related to EVMs, VVPAT and a nationwide protest programme. It comes a day after the Congress Working Committee adopted a resolution seeking Kumar's removal.
The opposition's push follows a report by The Indian Express that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months to SIR-related decisions and orders they said were issued without their knowledge or recommendation. The Election Commission has maintained that its final decisions, including on SIR, were taken collectively. A petition concerning Kumar's functioning and aspects of SIR is also due to come before the Supreme Court.
Who's Missing
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is not expected to attend due to Rajya Sabha nominations in Uttar Pradesh and is likely to send representatives. The Aam Aadmi Party has said it will stay away. The DMK has also said it will not attend, having recently announced its exit from the INDIA bloc after the Congress backed Vijay's TVK to form the government in Tamil Nadu.
DMK leader T.K.S. Elangovan said the party was no longer part of the bloc but would continue to support opposition parties on issues where they oppose the BJP, including a removal motion against Kumar in Parliament. Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal said the party would try to bring both the DMK and AAP on board.
Sources
The Week, Gujarat Samachar, India.com, NE Now, NewsDrum; DD News.
Latest Development
The outcome of the meeting is awaited. This story will be updated with decisions taken by the bloc.