The INDIA Bloc is convening in Delhi today to discuss a nationwide protest against alleged electoral misconduct by the Election Commission of India.
Photo : ANI
The INDIA Bloc is set to hold a key meeting in Delhi today, where opposition leaders are likely to deliberate on a proposed nationwide protest over allegations of electoral irregularities within the Election Commission of India (ECI). The meeting, scheduled to take place at the Constitution Club, comes in the wake of the Indian Express report which claimed that two Election Commissioners (ECs) — Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi — had flagged issues regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) comprising revision of the electoral rolls, deletion of voters in the country. The two ECs had also raised objections to the inclusion of Form 6, the report said, claiming that they have raised as many as 14 objections over a 10-month period.
Even since this report has surfaced, the opposition has been attacking the Modi government, Election Commission of India, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for allegedly undermining the sanctity of the elections and renewing its ‘vote chori’ charge.
Congress along with other opposition parties and political pressure group – Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) – together have been demanding the resignation and impeachment of the CEC, and rollback of electoral rolls to the pre-SIR voter list.
And in order to further discuss the strategy to counter the government and press for their demands, the INDIA bloc members are holding a key meeting today.
Who Are Attending And Skipping INDIA Bloc Meeting
Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Trinamool Congress supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and MP Abhishek Banerjee will be attending the meeting.
Also Left parties including CPI(M) represented by Rajya Sabha floor leader John Brittas, CPI, CPI(ML), and RSP are expected to join.
NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule and other regional parties will also be present at the meeting.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is expected to join the meeting virtually via video conferencing from Mumbai.
However, DMK, TVK and AAP will be skipping today’s meeting while some senior leaders from the Samajwadi Party (SP) may attend the meet.
Expected Agenda of INDIA BLOC Meeting
- Formulate strategy to demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and his impeachment.
- Brainstorm on joint agitation action plan.
- Discuss scrapping of the SIR process – Electoral roll revision exercise.
AAP To Skip INDIA Bloc Meet But Will Support CEC’s Impeachment
The Aam Aadmi Party has announced that it will not attend the INDIA bloc meeting being convened over issues concerning the Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said that the party would not attend the INDIA Bloc’s meeting but rather support an impeachment motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Parliament.
Singh said, “The Aam Aadmi Party has already made it clear that we are not part of the INDIA alliance, so there is no point in attending such a meeting.”
“As far as the impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is concerned, we have already signed it. If an impeachment motion against Gyanesh Kumar is brought in Parliament and any action is taken, we will join hands with all the opposition parties and fight this battle together.”
Responding to the reports that Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav will also maintain distance from the opposition meeting, Sanjay Singh accused the Congress of “troubling” Yadav and SP in Uttar Pradesh.
“We are seeing how Congress has been troubling the Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh,” the AAP leader said.