Left parties stage protest against CEC in Hassan, demand his removal

Activists of the CPI(M) and CPI staged a protest in Hassan on Saturday, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, in the wake of recent reports suggesting unilateral decision-making by him with regard to the SIR process.

The protesters, gathered at the Hemavathi Statue Circle in Hassan, raised slogans against the CEC. They alleged that Gyanesh Kumar unilaterally altered Form-6, meant for enrolling fresh voters, disregarding objections raised by two of the three Election Commissioners. The two commissioners are reported to have raised objections on at least 14 occasions over decisions relating to voter registration and the deletion and restoration of names as part of the SIR exercise.