States » EastPosted at: Oct 3 2026 12:47AM


Left parties march in Kolkata demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, halt to SIR

Kolkata, Oct 2 (UNI) The West Bengal Left Front and allied parties organised a large rally in Kolkata on Friday, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and restoration of the names of voters allegedly excluded from the rolls.
The march, held as part of a nationwide programme, began at Rani Rashmoni Avenue and passed through the Esplanade bus stand, Metro station and Press Club before concluding at the foot of the Mahatma Gandhi statue. Left leaders later garlanded the statue to mark Gandhi Jayanti.
The agitation is part of the ‘Save Democracy Yatra’ programme called by opposition parties from October 2 to 8. The Left parties said their campaign would continue across the state during the period.
The rally was organised by the CPI(M)-led Left Front along with CPI(ML) Liberation, SUCI and other Left parties. Human rights and civil society organisations, including the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), also joined the demonstration.
Before the march, a meeting was held at Rani Rashmoni Avenue, chaired by Left leader Sreedip Bhattacharya. Leaders also paid homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose before beginning the march towards Gandhi’s statue.
Addressing the gathering, CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim alleged that constitutional rights were being undermined and accused the Election Commission of functioning in a manner that was affecting voters’ rights.
“Today the Constitution is being destroyed. By appointing Gyanesh Kumar, constitutional rights are being taken away,” Salim alleged. He also accused the BJP of pursuing divisive politics and alleged that names had been removed from electoral rolls in accordance with the policies of union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Left parties raised a four-point set of demands, including the removal of the CEC, withdrawal of the SIR exercise, restoration of the names of excluded voters and restoration of an independent and democratic functioning of the Election Commission.
They also demanded that election commissioners be appointed through a transparent process in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions.
The Left leaders alleged that the CEC had taken unilateral decisions despite objections from the other two Election Commissioners and claimed that the process threatened constitutional and democratic institutions. They demanded Kumar’s resignation or removal, saying that the electoral rights of citizens needed to be protected.
Representatives of around 10 Left parties, including the CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation, SUCI(C), RSP and Forward Bloc, participated in the march.
Among those present were Mohammed Salim, Sujan Chakraborty, Prabir Deb, Kartik Pal and Debashis Mukherjee.
The Left parties said the campaign would continue until 8 October as part of the nationwide mobilisation against the SIR exercise and what they described as threats to democratic institutions. UNI RC NST CDS
Tags: #Left parties march in Kolkata demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal# halt to SIR
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