SIR Showdown Intensifies: CJP Plans October 2 Protest, Congress Calls CWC Meet On CEC

The political and civil society campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has intensified, with the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) announcing further protests, Congress stepping up demonstrations across states and the Supreme Court closely examining challenges linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The developments come ahead of a crucial sequence of events, a proposed CJP protest in Mumbai on October 2, a Congress Working Committee meeting on September 29, the Supreme Court's scheduled hearing on West Bengal SIR-related pleas on October 5, and bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar on October 6.

CJP co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka was among those detained by Assam Police on September 27 along with several other members ahead of a CJP volunteers' meeting in Guwahati. Ranka was later released and alleged that the detention was illegal. He also claimed that the police told them they were acting on "orders from the top". Police's version of the allegations has not established that the detention was illegal.

After his release, Ranka said CJP would seek to expand its activities across the Northeast, with a focus on students, youth and issues concerning indigenous communities.

In Mumbai, CJP has announced a "Jail Bharo Andolan" on October 2 against the Election Commission and Gyanesh Kumar. Mumbai Police, however, has denied permission for the proposed gathering at Shivaji Park, citing existing court directions, government guidelines, civic clearances and traffic concerns. CJP has indicated that it intends to continue with the agitation.

Congress, meanwhile, has taken the SIR issue to the streets. Party workers held demonstrations in Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and other states, demanding action against the CEC and raising concerns over the electoral-roll revision exercise.

In Telangana, Congress leaders and workers staged protests at district headquarters, while in Karnataka demonstrations were held in Bengaluru. Congress leaders have accused the Election Commission of mishandling the electoral-roll revision process, allegations the poll authority has rejected.

The confrontation also reached Gyanesh Kumar's residence in Agra, where Congress protesters demonstrated and slogans were painted on the premises, prompting criticism over the manner in which the protest was conducted.

At the organisational level, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has convened a CWC meeting on September 29 to discuss the party's strategy on the Election Commission and SIR issue.

The legal battle is unfolding alongside the street protests. The Supreme Court on Monday declined to advance hearing of West Bengal SIR-related pleas and fixed the matter for October 5, a day before the October 6 bypolls. Lawyers told the court that thousands of appeals against electoral-roll exclusions remained pending before appellate authorities.

The coming week could therefore bring developments on three fronts, street protests, Congress's political strategy and judicial scrutiny of the electoral-roll revision process.