BJD Joins Nationwide Opposition March Seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has announced its participation in a nationwide opposition protest march in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
According to party leaders, the move reflects growing concerns over alleged irregularities in voter list revisions and their impact on democratic processes.
Acting on the direction of Naveen Patnaik, BJD Members of Parliament will join the protest alongside other opposition parties.
Senior BJD leader Manas Mangaraj stated that the party has consistently raised objections to the electoral roll revision exercise and had earlier urged the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner over the issue.
The party has alleged that the Special Intensive Revision exercise resulted in the deletion of more than 13 crore voter names across the country.
In Odisha, BJD claims that over 20 lakh voters were excluded from the electoral rolls, raising concerns about disenfranchisement and transparency in the revision process.
BJD leaders also highlighted alleged discrepancies in the Dhamnagar Assembly constituency, where they claim hundreds of voters, particularly from minority communities, were removed from the voter list without the knowledge of local Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
The party argues that such incidents undermine public confidence in the electoral system.
The regional party has further questioned the neutrality of the election machinery, citing voter-roll concerns and reports regarding the voluntary retirement application of Odisha’s State Chief Electoral Officer.
Referring to recent observations by the Supreme Court, BJD leaders contended that the court clarified it had not directed modifications to Form 6, contrary to claims attributed to the Election Commission.
The party says these developments reinforce the need for greater accountability and transparency in the electoral process.
Although the BJD maintains that it remains equidistant from both the INDIA bloc and the NDA, the party has justified its decision to participate in the protest as a stand in defence of democratic values and electoral integrity.
As the controversy over electoral roll revisions continues to intensify, the opposition’s protest is expected to draw national attention to questions surrounding voter registration, electoral transparency, and the functioning of election management authorities.
