Activists, Left Groups to March to Election Commission Office Demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation

Several prominent activists and Left-wing organisations are set to march from central Delhi to the Election Commission of India’s office, renewing demands for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged electoral irregularities.

The protest is part of a nationwide campaign involving the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and People Against SIR. In Delhi, members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and other groups are scheduled to march at 1 pm from Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Gol Dak Khana and Gol Market towards the Election Commission’s office.

People Against SIR is a civil society collective comprising students, farmers and civil rights activists. The group claims that more than 300 organisations have joined its campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The SKM plans to submit memorandums to President Droupadi Murmu, demanding the scrapping of SIR, the restoration of voting rights to 13.41 crore people whom it alleges have been deleted from electoral rolls, and the removal and prosecution of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Economist Parakala Prabhakar, husband of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is also expected to join the march. In a social media post, he called for nationwide demonstrations under the slogan “Har Gali Mein Jantar Mantar”. A protest poster features Abhijeet Dipke, Neha Bora, Aishe Ghosh and Tushar Gandhi, among others.

Delhi High Court to Deliver Verdict on Neha Bora’s Plea

The Delhi High Court is scheduled to pronounce its order on Friday on AISA president Neha Bora’s plea challenging a police notice requiring her to furnish a bond to maintain peace.

During the hearing on Thursday, Bora argued that citizens do not need prior permission to hoist the national flag. Justice Subramonium Prasad, hearing the matter during the court’s Dussehra vacation, reserved the order and said it would be pronounced on Friday.

Bora was detained on October 16 while on her way to participate in the Cockroach Janata Party’s “Lehra Do Tiranga” march and was released the following day. She has approached the High Court seeking the quashing of the police notice and protection against coercive action.