THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/NEW DELHI, November 1: Congress general secretary K C Venugopal on Sunday described the party’s protest rally against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi as a “stern warning” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The protest rally is scheduled to take place at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital, with the Congress demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged electoral irregularities and concerns regarding the functioning of the Election Commission.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Venugopal claimed that the scale of public support for the agitation had unsettled the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. He alleged that the ruling establishment was attempting to discredit the protesters by describing them as anarchists and the demonstration as an insult to Parliament.
“This protest is a stern warning to them,” Venugopal said.
He also expressed confidence that Gyanesh Kumar would eventually be removed from his position, stating, “Gyanesh will be removed from his post. Take it from us.”
Venugopal further said that the police would be better served by cooperating with the protesters.
Several Congress leaders and INDIA bloc representatives are expected to participate in the demonstration, which has been organised to press for the CEC’s resignation.
Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan, who arrived in Delhi to attend the rally, said people across the country wanted Kumar to step down. He asserted that the INDIA bloc’s agitation would continue until the demand was fulfilled.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala also termed the protest a fight to protect India’s parliamentary democracy, alleging that the Election Commission was favouring the BJP.
He said the demonstration had brought public attention to concerns over the conduct of the electoral process and warned that the opposition would not allow any attempt to undermine free and fair elections.
Chennithala also referred to allegations concerning the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), undertaken in 2006 when Kumar was serving as Secretary in the Public Works Department. He said several complaints had been raised against the CEC and were reportedly being examined by the vigilance department.
The KSTP was a World Bank-funded project worth ₹215 crore for the reconstruction of the MC Road between Angamaly and Thiruvananthapuram. The project was awarded to a joint venture involving a Malaysian company and Bhageeratha Engineering.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan had earlier urged people to participate in the Delhi rally, saying that defending democracy and the Constitution was a collective responsibility.
In a message on X, he declared, “Chalo Dilli! When democracy is challenged, silence is not an option,” calling upon citizens to stand up for democratic values and the people’s mandate.
