Aizawl: The Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Friday staged a march from Vanapa Hall to the State Election Commission office in Aizawl, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Addressing the gathering, MPCC president Lal Thanzara alleged that the Election Commission had ignored concerns raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the past three years and accused the poll body of failing to act independently.
Thanzara alleged that Gyanesh Kumar had ignored 14 proposals submitted by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, claiming that the Chief Election Commissioner was instead functioning in a manner favourable to the BJP.
He also alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, claiming that large numbers of voters were being removed from electoral lists and alleging that the BJP’s victories in elections in different states were linked to what Congress describes as “vote theft”.
Thanzara said Congress considered the alleged irregularities a serious matter, particularly with elections in several states approaching. He alleged that if elections were conducted on the basis of the electoral rolls currently published by the authorities, the BJP could benefit unfairly.
The MPCC president demanded not only Gyanesh Kumar’s removal but also an investigation into his conduct and the functioning of the Election Commission. He said the Congress would continue to press for his removal.
Thanzara also raised an incident involving Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge during a public meeting in Uttarakhand on August 8.
According to Thanzara, after Kharge’s speech, members of the Shri Ram Sena objected to where he was seated, alleging that his seating arrangement amounted to an insult to a lower caste, following which the organisation carried out what he described as a “purification” ritual.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had criticised the incident, describing it as an instance of caste discrimination, Thanzara said.
He alleged that instead of filing a case against those involved in the incident, an FIR was filed against Rahul Gandhi after Shri Ram Sena member Amit Kumar approached the police.
Thanzara questioned why action had not been taken against the BJP workers and Shri Ram Sena members involved in the incident while an FIR was registered against Gandhi.
The MPCC president also criticised what he described as attempts to promote religious and caste divisions and alleged that such actions undermine social unity and marginalise disadvantaged communities.
He called on the RSS and organisations associated with it to stop activities that, according to the Congress, contribute to social division.
Also Read | Mizoram woman farmer’s strawberry success story earns UN recognition