The Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge , on Monday expressed support for civil society and youth organisations who are on the streets against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar , but skipped any mention of the Cockroach Janta Party , which has played a leading role in the latest round of protests.
During the protests at Jantar Mantar against then-education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Congress credited the students with forcing Pradhan to resign, but not the CJP, which spearheaded the protest. The CJP has also announced another round of sit-in demonstrations in Delhi from October 10.
In a post on X, Kharge listed three “non-negotiable” demands of the Congress, including the resignation of Kumar from the CEC post.
First, the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. Second, the cancellation of SIR. Third, conducting elections on Ballot Paper. Across the country, Congress workers and INDIA alliance partners are on the streets over these three issues,” Kharge wrote. Some INDIA bloc allies, including the Trinamool (Mamata), the CPI (M), and the Shiv Sena (UBT), have expressed their support for the CJP. The Congress, however, has refused to give political legitimacy to the CJP. “The isolation from the CJP-led protests can hurt the frontal organisations of the party.
“The Congress Party’s 3 demands are non-negotiable.
The Congress can either come up with its own protest plan, which can attract thousands of students, or it must acknowledge the CJP’s role,” said another party leader.
