Karnataka Congress to Protest in Delhi on October 12, Seeks CEC’s Resignation

Bengaluru, October 11: Karnataka Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will lead Congress legislators from the state in a protest in New Delhi on Monday, October 12, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Intensifying the Congress’s criticism of the Election Commission of India (ECI), Shivakumar on Sunday accused the authorities of undermining democratic rights by allegedly deleting the names of eligible voters from electoral rolls. He said the protest was aimed at safeguarding every citizen’s right to vote.

“We are holding our protest tomorrow. I had said that we did not want to go to Delhi in large numbers, but our legislators will be there. I am also going to Delhi to protect every voter,” he told reporters in Bengaluru.

Shivakumar said the alleged deletion of voters’ names raised serious concerns about democracy, particularly the voting rights of Dalits, minorities and backward classes. He questioned how eligible voters could be removed from electoral rolls in Karnataka and stressed the need to protect their constitutional rights.

Clarifying the Congress’s position on a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Shivakumar said his party would pursue its own course of action, although some constituents of the INDIA bloc had participated in the other demonstration.

On October 1, Shivakumar and his Cabinet colleagues staged a dharna at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Bengaluru. They demanded the registration of a criminal case and an investigation into an alleged conspiracy to remove eligible voters through Form 7 applications.

Referring to the reported internet shutdown in Delhi during the October 10 protest, Shivakumar questioned whether the country was witnessing democracy or an emergency. He criticised the alleged detention of protesters and elected representatives, saying everyone had the right to protest.

“Detaining people on flights and elected representatives is an insult to the nation and democracy,” he said, urging the Centre to allow protesters to meet the Chief Election Commissioner.

Reacting to an open letter signed by 124 former civil servants defending the Election Commission and the SIR exercise, Shivakumar said the Congress’s protest reflected broader public concerns rather than merely the position of a political party.

“The officers have done their duty. Congratulations to them. But our protest represents the voice of the country, not the voice of any political party,” he said.