‘Replacing Gyanesh Kumar won’t make Rahul Gandhi PM’: Assam BJP chief Dilip Saikia

Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia on October 1 hit back at the Opposition’s demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying that replacing the poll panel chief would not change the Congress’ political fortunes.

“Gyanesh Kumar can be replaced, but even if he is replaced, the Congress will never come to power,” Saikia said.

Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Assam BJP chief added, “Replacing him will not make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister either. The Congress should replace Rahul Gandhi. Until the Congress replaces Rahul Gandhi, nothing can be done.”

Saikia’s remarks came amid an intensifying political row over the functioning of the Election Commission and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The Congress and several Opposition parties have stepped up their demand for Kumar’s resignation following reports of disagreements within the Election Commission over decisions linked to the revision of voter rolls. The Congress Working Committee has also demanded Kumar’s immediate resignation, while the INDIA bloc has announced further protests over the issue.

The controversy has also spilt onto the streets of Assam. On September 25, Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and other party leaders were detained in Guwahati while protesting against Kumar and demanding his removal.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, has maintained that differing views among election commissioners are part of its deliberations and that its final decisions have been unanimous.

The Opposition has continued to link the controversy to allegations of irregularities in electoral-roll revisions, while the BJP has rejected the allegations and accused opposition parties of targeting the Election Commission.