NEW DELHI: Opposition INDIA bloc will meet on Sept 30 to discuss the alleged manipulation of poll rolls under SIR and a possible joint struggle to press for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.The meeting has been scheduled against the backdrop of nationwide outrage triggered by revelations that ECs SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had questioned many of the decisions regarding SIR.The opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi, has said the revelations tie in with their allegations of ‘vote chori’ in favour of BJP over the last two years. It has demanded the scrapping of the SIR process.TMC MP Derek O’Brien said the demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation is “non-negotiable”, while other issues will also be discussed at the meeting. “We will work unitedly and purposefully.”The meeting is expected to be attended by the leading lights of the anti-BJP front, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray and MA Baby.The meeting has been scheduled after CPM’s MA Baby wrote to parties (including AAP, DMK and CJP) seeking an immediate meeting.Trinamool’s Mamata Banerjee also reached out to INDIA bloc members. She called the CEC “Vanish Kumar”, demanded his ouster and said the Bengal mandate was stolen.The joint brainstorming will follow a Congress Working Committee meet on Sept 29.The parties are also planning to submit a fresh “removal notice” against Kumar in both Houses of Parliament.
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CPI-ML’s Dipankar Bhattacharya said that there is a strong belief within INDIA bloc that some parties (Aam Aadmi Party and DMK) which are not part of the alliance umbrella should also be roped in to boost the campaign. It also released a fact-finding report regarding SIR in constituencies that the party lost narrowly in recent Bihar assembly polls and claimed it found 17-25% of voters had been wrongly deleted.The meeting assumes special significance as Cockroach Janata Party and other youth outfits have already announced a stir over the issue.CJP has reiterated that it will launch a nationwide agitation from Mumbai on Oct 2 after its ultimatum seeking the resignation of Kumar ended Saturday. Azad Maidan is most likely to be the venue of its protest.
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