INDIA Bloc Demands CEC Removal as BJP Seeks CM Arrest
Congress-led INDIA bloc protests the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar while the BJP demands arrests of Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar over protest violations.
The INDIA bloc, led by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, has launched nationwide protests demanding the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Venugopal alleges that the Election Commission of India is being used by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah to rig elections and snatch votes from citizens. Demonstrations at Shivaji Park in Mumbai and near Jantar Mantar in Delhi led to the detention of leaders, including AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj. The opposition demands a return to ballot papers over EVMs and the use of pre-SIR electoral rolls, with a major rally planned for November 1 in Delhi.
Simultaneously, the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka is seeking legal action against Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his Cabinet ministers. A BJP delegation submitted a memorandum to Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh demanding FIRs and arrests following a protest staged by the Chief Minister at the State Chief Electoral Officer's office. The BJP argues the protest violated a Supreme Court order restricting demonstrations in Bengaluru to Freedom Park.
Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka and Council LoP Chalavadi Narayanaswamy characterized the Chief Minister's actions as contempt of court. The BJP has called for the release of CCTV footage and security details to determine if the police provided preferential treatment to the state government.
