CEC Gyanesh Kumar should resign to protect his dignity, says CPI(M) national general secretary

CPI(M) national general secretary M.A. Baby has demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign immediately to protect his dignity, warning that remaining in office would harm both Kumar and his superiors. The call comes amid allegations that Kumar's administration has improperly removed millions of voters from electoral rolls, particularly targeting marginalized groups such as minorities, Dalits, and Adivasis. Baby accused Kumar of conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign in a manner that stripped 13 crore people of their voting rights. He emphasized that voting is a fundamental democratic right and that denying it constitutes a crime against democracy. In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, Baby criticized the handling of electronic voting machines (EVMs), noting concerns about potential manipulation. He argued that implementing 100% voter-verified paper audit trails (VVPAT) could address these concerns but stressed that current efforts fall short of proper execution. The controversy surrounding SIR has extended beyond political discourse, reaching affected individuals in Delhi. At a recent public hearing organized by an independent commission, numerous voters shared their grievances regarding deletions from electoral rolls. Among them was Maya Devi, a domestic worker whose name and those of her two daughters were removed, despite her long-standing history of voting. She recounted how her family was forced to live in cramped conditions after her home was demolished. Other witnesses included a former Lok Sabha MP, a teacher who submitted hundreds of enumeration forms from his razed slum, and a man described as a “walking dead.” These individuals presented evidence of systematic exclusions, claiming they had submitted necessary documents yet still faced removal from the voter list. The independent commission, chaired by former judges Justice A.K. Patnaik, Rekha Sharma, and Anjana Prakash, heard testimonies from across multiple states, including West Bengal, Delhi, Telangana, and Bihar. Witnesses highlighted discrepancies in the SIR process, including logical inconsistencies related to family structures and age differences. Voter Adhikar Manch and Jan Sarokar, organizations representing voter rights, pointed out that Muslims were disproportionately targeted in Delhi and Karnataka for such discrepancies. Sabir Ahmed, who conducted a citizens' audit in Bengal, noted that the use of artificial intelligence to flag anomalies often overlooked social realities, such as early marriages and motherhood. The commission recommended increased public scrutiny of electoral rolls, suggesting that readings of draft rolls be conducted publicly to allow residents to identify and correct errors before finalization. This approach aims to ensure greater transparency and accuracy in the electoral process. In response to growing concerns, the Election Commission has relaxed verification procedures in Delhi, allowing block-level officers (BLOs) to visit homes and make minor corrections without requiring extensive documentation. Over 60% of the 33 lakh voters who received SIR notices in Delhi have now been verified. Notable figures such as Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and BJP veteran LK Advani were among those receiving notices in September. Approximately 19 lakh voters remain unverified, with ongoing efforts to resolve outstanding issues.