Stanley INDIA

Today, I participated in the massive protest organised by the KPCC at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Our demands are clear: SIR must be withdrawn and the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar must resign. This is not merely a question of revising electoral rolls. It is a struggle to protect the Constitution, democracy and the voting rights of every eligible citizen. The independence and impartiality of the Election Commission are fundamental to our democracy. I have serious concerns about the changes made to the process of appointing Election Commissioners, including replacing the Chief Justice of India on the selection committee with a Union Minister. Even when Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, raised objections to the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar, the appointment went ahead. Every eligible citizen must be able to exercise the right to vote. No name should be removed from the electoral roll without valid reasons and due process. In Karnataka, the number of voters has reportedly fallen from around 5.54 crore to about 4.55 crore, a reduction of nearly one crore voters. Such a large reduction demands serious scrutiny. The reasons for these deletions must be made public, and no genuine voter should be deprived of the right to vote. Concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission have also emerged from within the institution itself. An investigative report has stated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded written objections on at least 14 occasions during the past 10 months over matters including voter registration, addition and deletion of names, voter data management and certain decisions allegedly taken without their knowledge. These concerns require clear and transparent answers. The Election Commission must function independently, free from the influence of any political party. Free, fair and transparent elections are the foundation of democracy. The Congress and INDIA alliance will continue this struggle across Karnataka, including at the district and taluk levels, to protect voting rights and ensure transparency in the electoral process. This movement to defend the Constitution and democracy has taken the form of a second freedom struggle. I believe the political influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is declining and that the BJP will lose power in the 2029 Lok Sabha election. Protecting the independence of the Election Commission, citizens’ voting rights and the transparency of our electoral system is essential to safeguarding Indian democracy. We must remain vigilant and continue this constitutional struggle. @INCIndia @INCKarnataka