Dalit Sangharsha Samiti seeks removal of CEC, criminal case against Gyanesh Kumar

Demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the registration of a criminal case against him and the complete withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, members of the Karnataka Rajya Dalit Sangharsha Samiti staged a protest at Jagat Circle in Kalaburagi city on Friday.

Addressing the protesters, samiti State convenor D.G. Sagar accused the BJP-led Union government of misusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) for political purposes and weakening democratic institutions. The ECI must function independently and ensure free and fair elections without political interference, he added.

Mr. Sagar expressed concern that the SIR exercise could lead to the deletion of eligible voters’ names from electoral rolls, particularly affecting people from socially and economically disadvantaged sections. He said the revision process must follow the prescribed legal procedures and ensure that no eligible citizen is denied the right to vote.

Accusing the Centre of undermining democratic values, he said any attempt to influence the electoral process would erode public confidence in constitutional institutions.

The samiti demanded that the SIR exercise be stopped completely and sought a halt to upcoming elections until its concerns were addressed. It also called for the scrapping of the 2023 law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners, alleging that the existing framework compromised the ECI’s independence.

The protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India through the district administration, reiterating their demands for the removal of Mr. Kumar and the registration of a criminal case against him.