CPI(M) General Secretary Calls for Broader Opposition Unity Amid CEC Row
CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby on Saturday called for an 'INDIA Bloc-Plus'—a broader coalition of Opposition parties and civil society organisations—to resist what he described as the "misuse" of power by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar with alleged backing of the BJP leadership. Baby's remarks in Thiruvananthapuram followed reports that he had spoken with Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee as part of building a broader framework of opposition at the national level.
Baby said Indian politics is passing through "critical moments" and that a significant portion of how the CEC has misused his power has been exposed. He argued that while the INDIA Bloc has a role in building resistance, the coalition should expand beyond its current membership. "It should be INDIA Bloc-Plus; that is the entire Opposition should come. You should take everybody on board, including the civil society, including new political forces," Baby stated. He contended that the expose has demonstrated how the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll—a basic, democratic and transparent task—was virtually subverted by the CEC despite reservations from his colleagues.
Baby stressed that accountability must extend beyond the CEC's potential resignation. "But it is not just a question of whether he is forced to resign, but with whose support he did the illegal things. They also should be held to account," he said. The INDIA Bloc was expected to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to hold discussions on the matter.
