- INDIA bloc shifts focus from CEC impeachment to political fight.
- Opposition to target EC's Seema Khanna over ECINet centralization.
- Lack of parliamentary majority influenced dropping impeachment motion.
Sanjay Mishra, New Delhi: The INDIA bloc meeting on Wednesday indicated a consensus among the Opposition parties to pose a united fight against the special intensive revision (SIR) and the Central government. The Opposition parties had mulled bringing an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar after a report that raised questions over the poll body's functioning. However, the INDIA bloc has now shifted its focus to a political fight on the streets.
One of the potential reasons behind the decision is considered to be a lack of majority in the Parliament to support the impeachment motion. Instead of the CEC, opposition parties are likely to target Seema Khanna, Director General of the Election Commission's IT Division, over allegations of centralisation of the process of electoral roll changes through ECINet.
According to sources, in the meeting of opposition parties, a strategy has been agreed upon to register FIRs across the country to centralise the alleged irregularities in the SIR against Seema Khanna.
Opposition to focus on political fight rather than impeachment
According to a source present in the opposition meeting, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav suggested forming a subcommittee for better political coordination and communication in the INDIA bloc.
He highlighted that the meetings of top leaders currently take place after long intervals and so a subgroup of some leaders and spokespersons should be formed to provide a united opposition approach and quick coordination on key issues.
ALSO READ: INDIA Bloc Meet: ECI-SIR Row, CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Removal On Agenda; Kejriwal, Stalin Skip Meeting
The source claimed that most leaders agreed to Yadav's suggestion and that the subgroup would be formed soon.
Gyanesh Kumar shielded under 2023 act; impeachment not possible
During a discussion on the demand for the removal and arrest of Gyanesh Kumar, Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal said that under the law made in 2023, the CEC has the shield to avoid legal action and arrest.
In order to keep the option of taking action within the legal framework open, an FIR should be lodged across the country against Seema Khanna.
On the impeachment motion against Kumar, Sibal listed the obstacles in it, saying that the majority figure in the Parliament is not in his favour and the Speaker and the Chairman are with the ruling party.
He also emphasised the need to focus more on the political fight, which was widely agreed upon.
Rahul Gandhi raised EVM burning in Kolkata
Sources said that while giving his assessment on vote rigging, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of the burning of a large number of EVMs in a government building in South Kolkata after the recent Bengal elections with Mamata Banerjee, calling it a big scam.
Banerjee raised the issue of a thorough investigation into the contracts given by the Election Commission to IT and various other vendors and talked about working as a worker in the opposition alliance.
Sources said that Uddhav Thackeray, who participated in the meeting virtually, made a sharp attack on the CJI while informing his party's support to the CJP protest.
Attacking Gyanesh Kumar, he said that the Election Commission is not only stealing elections but also plundering parties, and that if one theft is uncovered, another one will emerge.
CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby said that this fight is not only against the Election Commission but also against the RSS and hence citizens and civil society will have to be involved.
(With inputs from Sanjay Mishra, New Delhi)