The Tripura Pradesh Congress on Friday staged a protest outside the State Election Office, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleging irregularities in the electoral process.
During the demonstration, Congress workers raised slogans against the Chief Election Commissioner and burnt his effigy. The party alleged that democratic institutions were being undermined and called for action against Kumar over what it described as serious electoral concerns.
Addressing the gathering, Tripura Congress MLA and CWC member Sudip Roy Barman alleged that the Election Commission had failed to protect the democratic process. He demanded the resignation and arrest of the Chief Election Commissioner and said the Congress would intensify its agitation if its demands were not addressed.
“Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CEC Gyanesh Kumar are winning elections by stealing votes. This has been happening for a long time,” Roy Barman alleged.
He also criticised what he described as the growing influence of cadre-based political organisations and appealed to voters to support mass-based political movements.
Roy Barman further alleged that names of eligible voters were being removed from electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. He claimed that questions had been raised over the process and alleged that changes in electoral rules had benefited the BJP in elections in different states, including West Bengal and Bihar.
The Congress leader said the party had launched a movement against the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Chief Election Commissioner and claimed that the people would join the campaign.
“If action is not taken against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the Congress and the people of India are preparing for the next phase of the movement,” he said.
The protestors reiterated their demand for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and said the party would continue its campaign over what it termed threats to the electoral process.
