INDIA bloc’s ‘public impeachment’ of CEC to be held at Kharge’s residence on October 30

The INDIA bloc will hold its proposed “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s official residence in New Delhi on Thursday (October 30), Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh announced on Wednesday (October 28).

Mr. Ramesh said the event would be held at 10, Rajaji Marg, at 3.30 p.m. on Thursday. The Congress President’s official residence was decided after its attempts to organise the event at the Ashok Hotel and Ramlila Maidan ran into hurdles over permission.

The programme has been planned as a curtain-raiser for the Opposition’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan against alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

“The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has openly violated the spirit and provisions of the Constitution. He has hollowed out the very foundation of our meticulously planned democratic electoral system. In plain words, he has lied to the Supreme Court. Acting on the signals of that venomous duo, he has turned himself into their tool. Their turn will come next,” the Congress communication chief said in a post on X.

On Tuesday, the Congress alleged that the authorities were obstructing the event to silence criticism of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal claimed that the Ashok Hotel, which had initially granted permission, withdrew it following police intervention. The party had subsequently decided to shift the programme to Ramlila Maidan, which it said it had booked from October 25 to November 3.

However, Mr. Venugopal alleged that police personnel stopped workers from setting up infrastructure at the venue.

“This means it is not the Delhi Police’s decision. It is the decision of PM (Narendra) Modi and (Home Minister) Amit Shah and they are protecting their pet Gyanesh Kumar,” he alleged on Tuesday.

Responding to the charge, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh told The Hindu that the Congress had sought permission only for a rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1, which was granted subject to conditions. No separate request for a mock impeachment had been received, he said.