Rahul Gandhi claims Modi will make Gyanesh Kumar quit, Congress panel seeks CEC's resignation

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Centre after a meeting of the Congress national executive. Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself would take Kumar's resignation. He also alleged that Kumar enjoys the protection of Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Gandhi said the Chief Election Commissioner cannot function without protection. By his claim, Kumar is holding on only because of the protection of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, and he will have to leave the post. Gandhi also said the issue of "vote chori" (vote theft) needs to be taken to the public. He claimed that 80 per cent of people believe the charge of vote theft is true.

Meanwhile, the Congress national executive passed a resolution with several demands, questioning the functioning of the Election Commission. It demands the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. It also demands that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls under way in some states be halted, and that names deleted from the rolls be restored.

The Congress has also demanded the resignations of Modi and Shah. The party says that, in view of the vote theft allegations, their resignation is necessary to protect the Constitution and democracy. These are the Congress's political allegations and demands. The Election Commission's position on the allegations is different.

Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal said the issue will be raised at the INDIA bloc meeting on Wednesday. The strategy for a nationwide agitation against the vote theft allegations is also likely to be decided at that meeting.

Preparations for an agitation against the Election Commission have also begun in Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray have announced a joint march in Mumbai on October 4. They said it will go from Byculla to CSMT.