Former Bureaucrats Call for Resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar Amid Election Commission Controversies

A coalition of former bureaucrats has issued a public appeal for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, citing serious concerns regarding alleged irregularities in the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls across India. In an open letter released on Monday, the group, known as the Constitutional Conduct Group, characterized the Election Commission under Kumar’s leadership as “imperious, autocratic, and dictatorial,” claiming that his actions amount to significant breaches of constitutional protocols.

The call for Kumar’s resignation is not an isolated incident; it follows mounting pressure from various opposition parties and civil society organizations, all echoing similar calls for accountability within the Election Commission. The tensions escalated after a report by The Indian Express revealed that two election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had repeatedly voiced their dissent regarding decisions made in relation to the special intensive revision (SIR) process.

According to the investigation, Sandhu and Joshi expressed formal objections on 14 separate occasions over a span of ten months, raising concerns that numerous decisions concerning the SIR were made without their consent or knowledge. The objections highlighted issues such as modifications to Form 6, which is pivotal for registering new voters, as well as disputes involving the inclusion of voters in West Bengal and the management of voter data in Goa.

This backdrop of dissent within the Election Commission comes at a critical time as the country prepares for upcoming elections. Observers note that the integrity and transparency of the electoral process are paramount to the functioning of democracy in India. The Constitutional Conduct Group’s letter further emphasized that Kumar’s handling of the SIR exercise represents a “serious infringement” of fundamental democratic principles and legality.

The demand for Kumar’s resignation has sparked widespread debate about the role and autonomy of the Election Commission, which has often been seen as the guardian of free and fair elections in India. As the political landscape heats up, the implications of these developments will be closely watched by both political analysts and the general public, who are keen on ensuring that the electoral process remains credible and transparent.

Source: scroll.in