NEW DELHI, Oct 8: Delhi Police has strengthened security around Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s official residence and the Election Commission office amid protests by opposition parties and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), officials said on Thursday.
Kumar enjoys Z-Plus category security, which involves a deployment of at least 32 personnel, primarily drawn from the Delhi Police. The Central government upgraded the security cover attached to the CEC’s post to the highest category during the tenure of former chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar.
The security arrangements come amid intensifying demonstrations by INDIA bloc leaders, who are demanding Kumar’s resignation over allegations of “vote chori” linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The CJP has also called for Kumar’s resignation and demanded criminal proceedings against him. After organising demonstrations in Mumbai and Bengaluru, the party has announced a march in New Delhi on October 10.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders continued their agitation in the national capital. On Thursday, they gathered at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat, offered floral tributes and prayed for “wisdom to the BJP government and the chief election commissioner”.
The protesting leaders reiterated that their movement would continue until Kumar steps down.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi staged an eight hour sit in at the Akashvani Bhawan complex. A day later, opposition leaders attempting to march towards Jantar Mantar were stopped near the Shangri-La hotel and detained.
The opposition has accused the Election Commission of carrying out voter deletions during the SIR exercise to exclude people perceived to oppose the BJP. It has also alleged collusion between the ruling party and the poll body, claims that have been central to its “vote chori” campaign.