Opposition steps up demand to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar after dissent report

The demand for the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has intensified among opposition parties across the country. The demand followed a report by an English news agency claiming that two of the three election commissioners over the past 10 months, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had formally recorded objections at least 14 times. The report caused a stir in political circles and triggered anger against Gyanesh Kumar from across the country.

According to the report, the two election commissioners claimed that some important decisions were being taken in the name of the full Election Commission without their knowledge. They were also reported to have said that some of these decisions were taken in an "unauthorised and illegal" manner. Meanwhile, the political party CJP cancelled all its scheduled programmes on Thursday, September 24. The party said its leadership would hold a press conference in Delhi in the afternoon on the subject of the "hijacking of Indian democracy".

The Election Commission of India responded to these allegations on Wednesday. The Commission clarified that its entire functioning has been in accordance with the law and the Commission's directions. It said that ignoring the large number of proposals approved, decisions taken, directions issued and other activities over the past 10 months, and focusing only on a few internal notes or remarks, amounted to "showing only one side of the picture".

The BJP also responded to the opposition's allegations. The party said that the emergence of differing views among the three election commissioners during official discussions shows that the Election Commission is functioning democratically. The party said this disproves the opposition's allegation that the Election Commission is working in a "dictatorial manner". Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party spokesperson Sambit Patra said reports of differing views among election commissioners during official discussions are "a sign of real democracy".

For now, the matter remains a point of accusation and counter-accusation between opposition parties and the BJP at the centre, while the Election Commission continues to maintain that its functioning is transparent.