Congress, 19 parties to hold Delhi rally seeking CEC's resignation

The Congress and 19 other parties will organise a mega rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on 1 November, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR controversy. Himachal Pradesh is set to play an important role in the protest, with around 200 workers from every assembly constituency expected to travel to Delhi.

The arrangements for the workers’ journey, including buses and food and beverages, will be made by the respective MLAs, ministers and former ministers from the concerned areas. The details were shared at a press conference in Bilaspur by Kamalkant, a member of the All India Congress Committee and observer for five districts.

Kamalkant reached Bilaspur as part of preparations for the “Delhi Chalo” campaign. He briefed party workers and the media about the participation of Himachal Pradesh in the rally. Former minister Ramlal Thakur, state Congress vice-president Bambar Thakur, district president Anjana Dhiman and former MLA Tilakraj Sharma were among the party leaders and office-bearers present at the press conference.

Speaking about the SIR controversy, Kamalkant alleged that the BJP’s top leadership met CEC Gyanesh Kumar and worked to remove the names of 13 crore voters from the electoral lists. He claimed that the result was that Congress governments could not be formed in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.

Kamalkant said the main reason for the formation of the government in Himachal Pradesh was the deep anger among the people against the previous BJP government. He also said that the present Congress government in Himachal Pradesh was doing excellent work.

He further said that no voter’s name would be allowed to be removed in Himachal Pradesh. According to Kamalkant, the Election Commission had worked to “kill democracy” at the direction of the BJP. He said that, in view of this, the Congress would ensure that CEC Gyanesh Kumar resigned under all circumstances.

The rally at Ramlila Maidan is being organised as part of the opposition to the SIR controversy and the demand for the CEC’s resignation. Himachal Pradesh Congress workers from all assembly constituencies will travel to Delhi to participate in the event.

Ramlal Thakur said that Congress workers from Himachal Pradesh would participate in large numbers in the massive protest being organised by the Congress and other parties in Delhi on 1 November. He said they would extend full support to Rahul Gandhi and the top leadership in the effort to protect democracy and the Constitution.