Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday urged people, including student groups, to join the November 1 “Chalo Dilli” march at Ramlila Maidan against the alleged irregularities in special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, even as the Opposition INDIA bloc geared up its campaign against the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and planned a “symbolic impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner ( CEC ) Gyanesh Kumar on Friday.
“The ‘Chalo Delhi’ Ramlila march is a march to save democracy, to prevent the theft of votes, and to protect the Constitution. This is not a march by any single political party—it is a march of the soul of India. Don’t worry about the police, don’t worry about lathis – the BJP will not have the guts to try any of their antics. “There is no enacting. It is not a mock parliament or parody. However, O’Brien objected to the proposition, maintaining no one in his party is interested to mimic any leader.
In a social media post, Gandhi described the proposed march as the “protest of the country” against the alleged vote theft. Come march with us – we will walk together to protect the Constitution, to protect the Indian nation,” he said in a video shared on X. The parties had earlier planned to run a “mock Parliament” to impeach Kumar, but later unanimously decided to turn the event into a “more serious political debate that will only have a hint of a mock Parliament”, two leaders present in the meeting said. It is a serious impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar and pathetic functioning of the ECI,” O’Brien said. The original plan was to get lawmakers impersonate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minsiter Amit Shah and the CEC, according to leaders. “Other leaders including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Brittas instantly supported O’Brien and there was an unanimity that the Opposition must look at a hardcore political programme and not just a mock Parliament,” the leaders said. A senior Congress leader said they had also planned to invite former Supreme Court judges and jurists to participate in the mock parliament, but at least five former judges refused to join the show.
Opposition’s demands and the removal process
Gandhi will deliver the final speech. Under the law, the CEC can be removed by Parliament through a process similar to the impeachment of a Supreme Court judge. The CEC or an Election Commissioner may also resign by submitting a written resignation to the President.
Meanwhile, the opposition parties have decided to hold the “symbolic impeachment” of the CEC at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge ’s residence on Friday. The session will be presided over by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will move the resolution against Gyanesh Kumar, before opening the session for other leaders, according to leaders aware of the matter. People whose names have been reportedly deleted from the voters’ list will also speak at the session, they said.
