India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is facing increasing political pressure as protests demanding his removal continue in Mumbai. At the same time, Kerala has ordered a fresh investigation into an old case linked to allegations made during his earlier tenure as a state government official.
Massive Protest in Mumbai
A large demonstration was held in Mumbai demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. The march, called “Virat Garjana Morcha,” was supported by Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray.
The rally began near Metro Cinema Junction in South Mumbai and ended outside the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters. Thousands of people participated, causing major disruptions to traffic and normal city life.
The protesters called for the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner and demanded that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process be cancelled. They also argued for a return to ballot-based voting.
Opposition Raises Election-Related Concerns
The Thackeray brothers and other opposition leaders have accused the Election Commission of acting in a manner that benefits the ruling BJP. They have raised questions about changes to voter lists and the electoral process in Maharashtra and other parts of India.
These allegations have become a major part of the growing campaign against Gyanesh Kumar. However, the claims remain matters of political dispute and have been strongly linked to the opposition’s criticism of the Election Commission.
Kerala Reopens an Old Case
Political pressure is not the only challenge facing Gyanesh Kumar. The Kerala government has also ordered a fresh investigation into a case dating back around two decades.
The case relates to a road construction project involving an Indian-Malaysian joint venture during the mid-2000s. A Malaysian engineer associated with the project later died by suicide after reportedly facing difficulties over payments. His suicide note allegedly raised accusations involving Gyanesh Kumar, who was serving as Kerala’s Public Works Secretary at the time.
An earlier investigation into the matter was eventually stopped. The current Kerala government has now instructed its Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to examine the case again and determine whether the previous investigation was improperly influenced or halted.
Legal Protection as Election Commissioner
Gyanesh Kumar currently has legal protection under legislation introduced by the central government in 2023. The law provides protection to election commissioners from certain civil and criminal proceedings related to decisions taken in their official election-related duties.
However, the Kerala government maintains that this protection does not prevent an investigation into an incident dating back to 2006, before Gyanesh Kumar became Chief Election Commissioner.
Pressure Continues to Grow
With street protests expanding and an old investigation being reopened, pressure on Gyanesh Kumar has intensified from different directions. Neither Gyanesh Kumar nor the central government had issued a response to Kerala’s latest decision at the time of the report.
The developments are likely to keep the role of the Election Commission, voter-list revisions and the independence of India’s electoral institutions at the centre of political debate.
