Sambit Patra: 'Form 6 amend nahi hua', slams Congress over ECI claims

Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc convened at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in New Delhi to conduct a symbolic public impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar presided over the proceedings, noting that the session was summoned because voter names were improperly removed from electoral rolls without transparency or accountability. Moving the formal resolution, Mallikarjun Kharge detailed six specific charges against the CEC, alleging criminal conspiracy to manipulate state and national elections, the arbitrary deletion of roughly 13 to 14 crore voters via the Special Intensive Revision process, and unauthorized alterations to Form 6 of the Registration of Electors Rules. Kharge argued that the fundamental right to vote under Article 326 of the Constitution is under severe threat, criticizing the 2023 CEC legislation for shielding the office from scrutiny while local authorities face restricted oversight. Opposition parliamentarians and civil society representatives gathered to demand the immediate removal of the CEC.

At Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi, a public impeachment is underway featuring a Lok Sabha backdrop and proceedings led by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar as presiding officer. The event is attended by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Members of Parliament, civil society representatives, and youth wing organisations of political parties. Mallikarjun Kharge addressed the gathering, targeting the Narendra Modi government over Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR exercise. Conducted in a parliamentary format rather than a conventional rally, this session takes place ahead of the mega November 1 Ramlila Maidan Chalo rally.

A major internal rift has emerged within the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference following a recent cabinet expansion. Around 19 to 20 dissident MLAs convened for a marathon meeting lasting four to five hours in Srinagar to draft a resolution containing non-negotiable demands for party patron Farooq Abdullah. The disgruntled legislators, including senior figures such as Mubarak Gul and Abdul Majid Larmi, are demanding the removal of at least two ministers serving for the past two years to make room for sidelined senior leaders. Additionally, they are calling for the ouster of close aides to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, specifically advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and Rajya Sabha member Shammi Oberoi, while demanding a more aggressive stance on election commitments regarding constitutional guarantees and special status. Compounding the party's crisis, Srinagar MP Agha Syed Ruhullah confirmed his plan to resign from both the party and his parliamentary seat on 3 November, raising concerns of a potential formal split.

The opposition INDIA bloc convened a symbolic public impeachment of the Chief Election Commissioner at the official residence of Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar presided over the proceedings as presiding officer, while Kharge initiated the session by moving the motion and detailing six major charges against the CEC. The allegations levelled by the opposition alliance include conspiring to steal elections on behalf of the BJP, the deletion of 13.2 crore voters via the Special Intensive Revision process, modifying voter registration forms without parliamentary consent, seizing electoral rolls via ECI Net, shutting out the two other election commissioners, and operating at the behest of the Prime Minister and Home Minister. Prominent opposition leaders from several parties, along with civil society representatives and complainants, participated in the mock parliamentary exercise.