New Delhi: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale came out against the demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Protests intensified across the country, calling for Kumar’s resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) row.
"The Election Commission is a constitutionally independent body. Demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and opposing transparent electoral rolls is an opposition to the democratic system itself," the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment told reporters.
He said that the poll panel is working impartially and should be allowed to carry out the exercise to ensure transparent elections.
A recent investigation by The Indian Express claimed that two election commissioners formally objected at least 14 times over 10 months to the poll panel’s handling of the SIR process. That stirred a political storm in India.
The Election Commission has clarified in a statement that decisions, including those relating to the SIR of electoral rolls, were taken unanimously by the three-member commission.
Athawale backed Kumar, saying that he should not resign under pressure from the Opposition, claiming that there are no differences among the Election Commissioners.
He said the revision of electoral rolls is necessary for transparent elections, and the names of deceased voters should be removed.
Athawale demanded an investigation into instances where more than 40 voters are registered at a small house.
He also criticised the Cockroach Janta Party for demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation; he mocked the outfit, saying it should change its name to 'Rajinama Janata Party' as it had earlier demanded the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
"Every time, it is not right to demand someone's resignation," the RPI (A) chief added.(With agency inputs from PTI)