INDI Alliance, comprising eight opposition parties, jointly organised a major demonstration in Agartala on Friday, October 30, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, withdrawal of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and greater transparency in India’s electoral system.
At a Glance
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Thousands of people, including a large number of women, participated in the INDI Alliance rally in Agartala on October 30.
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Eight political parties jointly organised the demonstration against alleged electoral malpractices.
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The alliance placed a four-point charter of demands, including the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and withdrawal of the ongoing SIR exercise.
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Jitendra Chaudhury expressed concern over the possible deletion of genuine voters’ names during the SIR process.
People took to the streets of Agartala on Friday as the INDI Alliance organised a massive protest rally against alleged electoral malpractices and irregularities in the ongoing revision of electoral rolls.
The demonstrators demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and an immediate withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. They also called for greater accountability and transparency in the country’s electoral system.
| Earlier Report : INDI Bloc to Protest in Agartala on October 30, Demands CEC’s Removal |
A large number of women joined the demonstration. Carrying the national flag, singing patriotic songs and raising slogans, the protesters marched through different parts of the state capital.
The participating parties vowed to continue their agitation until the authorities addressed their demands.
Eight Parties Jointly Organise Agartala Protest
The Tripura unit of the INDI Alliance jointly organised the demonstration with the participation of eight political parties.
The alliance comprises the Congress, CPIM, CPI, Revolutionary Socialist Party, All India Forward Bloc, CPI(ML), Gana Mancha and Tripura People’s Party.
Thousands of supporters marched through the streets, expressing their anger over what they described as serious irregularities in the electoral process.
The national flag remained a prominent feature of the rally. Protesters raised slogans against alleged electoral malpractices and demanded safeguards to protect the integrity of the voting process.
The march concluded with a public meeting in Agartala. Senior opposition leaders addressed the gathering and reiterated the alliance’s demands.
Manik Sarkar, Jitendra Chaudhury Lead Rally
Former Tripura Chief Minister and senior CPIM leader Manik Sarkar, Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury and former Minister Manik Dey led the demonstration.
Tripura Congress president Asish Kumar Saha and former Minister and Congress Working Committee member Sudip Roy Barman also participated.
Several other senior INDI Alliance leaders joined the rally and addressed the public meeting.
During the meeting, opposition leaders renewed their demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s removal from the post of Chief Election Commissioner. They also called for the suspension of the ongoing SIR exercise.
INDI Alliance Presents Four-Point Charter of Demands
The INDI Alliance placed a four-point charter of demands before the authorities.
The first demand seeks Gyanesh Kumar’s removal as Chief Election Commissioner. The second calls for the withdrawal of the ongoing SIR process.
The alliance has also demanded a review of provisions that it alleges could undermine the Election Commission’s independence. Its fourth demand concerns opposition to the legal protections granted to the Chief Election Commissioner.
The leaders argued that electoral procedures must ensure transparency, fairness and the protection of every eligible voter’s right to participate in elections.
Jitendra Chaudhury Warns of Possible Voter Exclusion
CPI(M) Tripura state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury expressed concern over the possible exclusion of genuine voters during the SIR exercise.
He alleged that the revision process could remove eligible voters from electoral rolls if the authorities failed to introduce adequate safeguards.
Chaudhury also questioned the neutrality of the Election Commission. He accused the BJP-led Central government of weakening the country’s democratic institutions.
Citing figures to support his concerns, Chaudhury claimed that nearly 13.50 crore voters had already been removed from electoral rolls across the country through the SIR exercise.
He further expressed apprehension that the upcoming revision process could lead to the deletion of more than 2.50 lakh voters’ names from Tripura’s electoral rolls.
“Nearly 13.50 crore voters have already been removed from electoral rolls across the country through the SIR exercise, and there are apprehensions that over 2.50 lakh voters could be deleted from Tripura’s electoral rolls during the upcoming SIR process,” Chaudhury said.
Asish Kumar Saha Flags Alleged Voter Registration Irregularities
Tripura Congress president Asish Kumar Saha also raised concerns over alleged discrepancies in voter registration.
He pointed to instances of duplicate entries in electoral rolls and unusually large numbers of voters registered against certain addresses.
Saha questioned the transparency of electoral procedures. He warned that such alleged irregularities could weaken public confidence in the country’s electoral system.
He stressed the need to maintain credibility in voter registration and ensure transparency throughout the electoral process.
Sudip Roy Barman Seeks Wider Opposition Participation
Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman appealed to political parties outside the INDI Alliance and other supporters of democracy to join the campaign against alleged electoral malpractices.
He said the alliance would continue its agitation to put pressure on the Election Commission and other concerned authorities.
Roy Barman maintained that the authorities must address the Opposition’s grievances over electoral roll revisions. He also called for measures to protect the integrity, transparency and fairness of the voting process.
The INDI Alliance leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continuing democratic protests until the authorities addressed their four-point charter of demands and resolved the concerns raised by opposition parties over the electoral process. (With inputs from IANS)
