Persistent rain in the Capital has forced the INDIA bloc to defer its planned “public impeachment” programme against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from Friday to Saturday.
The event will take place at 3:30 pm on Saturday at the lawns of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s official residence at 10, Rajaji Marg in Central Delhi, the same venue and time fixed for the original programme.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar is scheduled to chair the proceedings. Kharge is expected to move the symbolic “motion”, while Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi will deliver the concluding remarks. One representative from each constituent party is also likely to speak.
The programme has been organised as a symbolic protest over the opposition’s “vote chori” allegations. INDIA bloc leaders held a meeting on Thursday to finalise the format and arrangements for the proceedings.
Congress general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal attended the preparatory meeting along with senior Congress leader Meira Kumar, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien, Samajwadi Party leader Harendra Malik, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Mahua Maji and CPI(M) leader John Brittas, among others.
Invitations were sent to INDIA bloc MPs for the programme titled “The Public Impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar”, scheduled to begin at 3:30 pm at 10, Rajaji Marg.
The Congress had on Tuesday alleged that it was denied permission to organise the event. The party accused the government of attempting to suppress the voice of ordinary citizens after, in its view, the electoral system had been “destroyed”.
The Congress and other opposition parties have also announced a large protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1.
The opposition parties are seeking Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.